Series Preview: Series 6 vs. Braves
It has been a rough week for the Yankees and it has not even started yet. The Yankees are 5-10 on the season. The Braves have been slightly better, so Atlanta enters the series with a record of 7-9. Both teams have high expectations for 2021, so a series win can right the ship for whichever team can get it done. A split of the two games will leave both teams treading water in April.
Game 1
Tuesday, April 20 — 6:35 pm — YES Network
Probable Pitchers: Charlie Morton - RHP (ATL) vs. Jameson Taillon - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Jameson Taillon will make his third start as a Yankee. His first start featured flashes of high-end put-away stuff, but the wheels came off in his second start. His pitch count is not quite built up to that of a full time starter yet, but he can certainly make a significant jump in this game if he is commanding the ball well.
Charlie Morton is no stranger to pitching at Yankee Stadium, but he is fairly unfamiliar with individual success there. In 6 career starts in the Bronx, Morton holds a 5.64 ERA, despite achieving 40 strikeouts in 30.1 innings (11.9 K/9). In his entire career, Morton has a 3.83 ERA against the Yanks, so he has had great success against them on the road.
The most anticipated parts of this game will be the release of each team’s lineup cards. The Yankees are facing pressure to shake things up and possibly bench some key players. The Braves will have an entire fan base zoned in to see if Acuña Jr.’s name is at the top of the card.
Game 2
Wednesday, April 21 — 6:35 pm — YES Network, ESPN
Probable Pitchers: Ian Anderson - RHP (ATL) vs. Corey Kluber - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Ian Anderson debuted last season against the Yankees as part of a 7-inning doubleheader game. Aside from a Luke Voit solo home run late in the game, he was perfect. Now the young New York native has some Postseason experience and is making a name for himself at the big league level.
Corey Kluber is struggling big time. He has a 6.10 ERA and 2.23 WHIP through 3 starts. He has only compiled 10.1 innings in the outings. This game will be a big test for him and can change the outlook of the rotation if he flops again.
Injury Report
Gary Sánchez left Saturday’s game after his throwing hand swelled up. He was hit there by a foul ball and had x-rays on it. The results all came back negative, but Sánchez sat on Sunday as the Gerrit Cole-Kyle Higashioka duo continued their streak of battery pairings.
Ever since missing a few games due to “general soreness” in his side, Aaron Judge has been rather conservative in right field and on the base paths. I am keeping an eye on Judge and his ability to track fly balls in right field and turn on the ball in the batter’s box.
Luke Voit (torn meniscus), Miguel Andújar (carpal tunnel syndrome), Zack Britton (arthroscopic elbow surgery), Clarke Schmidt (elbow strain), and Luis Severino (Tommy John surgery) are all out for the series.
The big story in Braves territory on Monday was Ronald Acuña Jr.’s injury status. He exited the game due to injury in the team’s Sunday Night Baseball matchup with the Cubs. On Monday, the Braves released a statement that Acuña Jr. had an MRI done and it revealed a low-grade abdominal strain. The club stated that their star outfielder would not go on the 10-day injured list and that he is day-to-day.
The outfield aside from Acuña Jr. is also banged up pretty badly. Ender Inciarte is out with a strained hamstring (suffered 4/16) and rookie Cristian Pache is out with a strained groin (suffered 4/13).
The Braves’ rotation has been disappointing this season, but now it is shorthanded. Left-handed pitchers Max Fried (strained hamstring) and Drew Smyly (left forearm inflammation) were added to the 10-day injured list last week. Righty Mike Soroka (right shoulder soreness) was shut down from his rehab stint two weeks ago, as he was recovering from an achilles injury.
Righty Touki Toussaint remains on the 60-day injured list with a strained shoulder. He has not pitched this season.
Right-handed reliever Chris Martin has yet to resume any throwing activities after suffering shoulder inflammation earlier this month. Lefty reliever Sean Newcomb is on the COVID-19 injured list and can return when he clears league protocols.