Series Preview: Series 15 vs. White Sox
Photo Via: Adam Hunger — Getty ImagesIt is always nice entering a weekend with six consecutive series wins. With their first off-day in 2 weeks looming on Monday, the Yanks just need to push forward for one more series prior to resting their legs. The Yankees will face a pair of lefties this series in Rodón and Keuchel, which would sound favorable for somebody seeing the righty-stacked lineup that the Yanks can put out there. However, the Yankees are 5-6 this season against lefties and 20-13 against righties. With the amount of double plays the Yanks have grounded into this season, the matchup against sinkerballer Dallas Keuchel is one where the Yanks should be ready to strategize to avoid rally-killers.
The White Sox grabbed a bunch of headlines this week against the Twins. Yermín Mercedes swung at a 3-0 pitch with a 15-4 lead and position player Willians Astudillo on the mound throwing 47 mph batting practice. Mercedes turned on it for a home run and was publicly scolded by manager Tony LaRussa. The next game, Twins’ reliever Tyler Duffey threw behind Mercedes and LaRussa said he did not have a problem with it. There is seemingly a riff in the White Sox clubhouse over the incident, with players believing the old-school approach needs to be put to bed while the manager will not budge on his opinion. LaRussa even said of Lance Lynn, “He has a locker, I have an office,” when Lynn stated that hitters should be able to swing the bat in that situation. We will see if the White Sox take the distractions with them to New York.
Yankees Record: 25-19
White Sox Record: 26-16
Season Series: 0-0
Lifetime Record: 1,070-826 (Yankees leading)
Game 1
Friday, May 21 — 7:05 pm — WPIX 11
Probable Pitchers: Carlos Rodón - LHP (CHW) vs. Jordan Montgomery - LHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Jordan Montgomery (2-1, 4.75 ERA) had his best start on the year 10 days ago when he took the hill against the Rays at Tropicana Field. He turned in a 6 inning, 1 run performance and the Yankees got the win. He followed it up with a clunker last time out in Baltimore. He gave up 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in just 3 innings in a loss.
This time, Montgomery is tasked with facing the dangerous White Sox lineup. Chicago has a 9-2 record against left-handed starters. Tim Anderson, José Abreu, Yermín Mercedes, Nick Madrigal, and Andrew Vaughn are all right-handed hitters in their typical lineup. Their nine usually consists of a nice balance between contact hitting (Anderson: .307 AVG and Madrigal: .276 AVG) and power hitting (Abreu: .827 OPS and Mercedes: .960 OPS). It also has switch-hitters like Yoan Moncada and Yasmani Grandal ready to hit against anyone you throw at them.
Carlos Rodón is coming off his worst start of the season too. He is 5-1 with a 1.47 ERA though, so he was due for a bad one. He pitched on 8 days rest and the Royals smacked him around for 4 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks in 5.2 innings. He has not allowed more than one run in any other start this season. Expect a lot of strikeouts, too, as he has racked up 49 in 36.2 innings in 2021. The former 3rd overall pick in 2014 has finally put it together after a string of arm injuries. His slider has great break and he likes to aim it at right-handed hitters back foot (see: Roberto Pérez in his nearly-perfect game).
Game 2
Saturday, May 22 — 1:05 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Dylan Cease - RHP (CHW) vs. Gerrit Cole - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Gerrit Cole was tagged for 5 runs at Texas his last time out on the mound. In all likelihood, it is not going to happen again. However, the White Sox are a very talented lineup that can handle the best pitching in the league. One of the tougher matchups for Cole may be against Adam Eaton, who has patient at bats and makes you throw a lot of pitches. Cole (2.03 ERA) can get his ERA sub-2 with a nice start on Saturday.
Dylan Cease has been stellar in 3 of his last 4 starts. In fact, he did not allow a run in any of those 3 great starts. The other start came against the Twins, who knocked in 3 runs against the righty. Cease owns a 2-0 record with a 2.41 ERA in 2021. He is a spin-rate monster with his fastball spin in the 96th percentile and his curve spin in the 86th percentile (via Statcast). He has a 4-seam fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup mix. Like most of the league, he tends to throw the changeup to opposite-handed batters (lefties in his case). The changeup has really worked, with a .083 batting average against.
Game 3
Sunday, May 23 — 1:05 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Dallas Keuchel - LHP (CHW) vs. Jameson Taillon - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Yankees fans are quite familiar with Dallas Keuchel. He has a few playoff wins against the Bombers from his days with the Astros, but he has not been nearly as dominant this year. He sports a 3-1 record, but a 4.44 ERA so far. He mostly sticks with his sinker, changeup, and cutter. He occasionally mixes in a slider and 4-seam fastball. The Yankees desperately need to avoid the double play ball in this game.
Jameson Taillon (5.73 ERA) has really struggled with command this season. He does not seem to have an issue getting to two-strike counts, but has thrown plenty of waste pitches and meatballs down the middle once he gets there. He needs to really focus on what he wants to do with the fastball-breaking ball combination, especially since he has really cut down on his changeup usage.
Sluggers to Watch
Gleyber Torres is yet to have a complete breakout series. This one could be it. After spending a handful of days on the COVID-related injured list, Torres looked sharp in his return to the team. Now with the team heading to Yankee Stadium and a couple lefties on the schedule, maybe it will be Torres’ turn to break out. He hit 38 homers in 2019 and has not flashed that much power since. But we know it is in there somewhere. Even if he does not hit homers this weekend, he has the ability to spray the yard with hits.
D.J. LeMahieu is always a fair pick against lefties, especially when playing at home. LeMahieu hit into some awful luck at Texas. He barreled baseballs right at infielders and deep into the never-ending Texas outfield a few times. If his timing stays how it is, expect all multi-hit games from the Yanks’ leadoff hitter.
Speaking of leadoff hitters, Tim Anderson makes contact with the best of them. The Yankees need to keep Anderson off the bases to prevent big innings. He consistently hits over .300 and has been up at the top of the American League in batting average with LeMahieu in each of the past two seasons. He might even be able to control his bat to flip a couple pitches over the short porch in right field. If he does, expect a nice bat slam.
Yermín Mercedes, who is a rookie, is hitting off the charts this season. Offense is down across the league, but not for Mercedes. He is hitting .358, has a .405 OBP, and 6 home runs in 137 at bats. He has an interesting approach where he does not stride once he gets to two strikes in the count. Whatever he is doing, it is working.
Injury Report
OF Clint Frazier has neck stiffness and is day-to-day. He missed each of the final three games in Texas. He could be back for this series, or it could result in a trip to the injured list.
DH Giancarlo Stanton was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 14th. He has a strained left quad and will miss the entire series. He has a good chance to return after the team’s off day on Monday.
CF Aaron Hicks has a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist and is also on the 10-day injured list. He will miss the entire series again and there are also major concerns that his season is over if surgery is required, which is still unknown.
OF Ryan LaMarre suffered a strained hamstring in the Texas series and was placed on the 10-day injured list, so he will miss the entire series.
RHP Clarke Schmidt (elbow strain), RHP Darren O’Day (strained rotator cuff), and RHP Luis Severino (Tommy John surgery) are all out for the series.
LHP Zack Britton (arthroscopic elbow surgery) was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset last week, but it was delayed after he felt general soreness from throwing in a simulated game. This is not good news for the Yankees, who can really use the superstar relief pitcher. Britton will get another look at the elbow by doctors and go from there.
The White Sox have the following players on the injured list:
OF Adam Engel (strained hamstring - 10-day IL)
OF Luis Robert (torn hip flexor - 10-day IL)
OF Eloy Jiménez (pectoral surgery - ruptured tendon - 60-day IL)
RHP Jimmy Cordero (Tommy John surgery - 60-day IL)
LHP Jace Fry (Microdiscectomy back injury - 60-day IL)
Engel could begin a rehab assignment very soon, but is not expected to return for this series. None of the other players will be able to return for the weekend series.