Series Preview: Series 11 vs. Nationals
Photo Via: Wendell Cruz — USA TODAY SportsA nice little interleague weekend series is not the worst thing right now. The series is sandwiched between rivalry matchups with the Astros and Rays, but it is still important to earn a series win. The Yankees have finally started to look like a competitive baseball team. Sustain the success and move forward!
Game 1
Friday, May 7 — 7:05 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Patrick Corbin - LHP (WSH) vs. Jameson Taillon - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Miguel Andújar will start at first base for the Yanks. With Odor and Urshela out, Andújar earned the promotion one night after hitting a pair of homers in Triple-A.
Game 2
Saturday, May 8 — 1:05 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Max Scherzer - RHP (WSH) vs. Corey Kluber - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: This is certainly a showdown of some top pitching names in the modern era. Anytime you can get these two on the mound together, it is worth a tune in. Each are coming off of fantastic outings (Scherzer: 9 IP, 1 R. Kluber: 8 IP, 0 R) and Scherzer just became a father this week.
Game 3
Sunday, May 9 — 1:05 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Joe Ross - RHP (WSH) vs. Domingo Germán - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: The Sunday day game features to back-end starters. However, even still, the scoring should not come easy because Ross and Germán are two of the better back-end rotation guys in baseball.
Sluggers to Watch
The two hitters to keep an eye on are the same exact ones for the Yankees as last series. Giancarlo Stanton takes a 12 game hitting streak into the series. Aaron Judge had a streak of his own too, but in a bad way. He struck out in 7 consecutive plate appearances. Judge needs to lock in and make sure the bad series does not turn into a bad week.
Always, the slugger to watch for Washington is Juan Soto. Even coming off a shoulder injury, he is an on-base machine and power threat. His bat-to-ball skills are phenomenal. Look for him to make a loud return.
Also, look out for Trea Turner. His speed on the base paths is a problem for opposing pitchers, but he can swing the stick as well.
Injury Report
Gio Urshela was not placed on the injured list, but is out of the lineup for the first game. He had an MRI on his knee after leaving the final game against Houston.
Luke Voit (torn meniscus) played rehab games with Triple-A Scranton this week. He will likely miss this series, but should return for the Tuesday series against Tampa Bay.
Clarke Schmidt (elbow strain) looks “fantastic” in his rehab and should be back this season, possibly even in the majors, according to Yankees senior director of player development Kevin Reese. He will not appear in this series, however.
Rougned Odor (sprained knee), Zack Britton (arthroscopic elbow surgery), Darren O’Day (strained rotator cuff), and Luis Severino (Tommy John surgery) are all out for the series.
Luis Severino is scheduled to throw live at-bats early next week.
Stephen Strasburg (shoulder inflammation), Luis Avilán (Tommy John surgery), and Wander Suero (oblique) will all miss the series for the Nationals.
Juan Soto just returned from a strained shoulder last series, but the Nationals have been monitoring him closely.