Series Preview: Series 24 vs. Royals
Photo Via: Somerset Patriots — Twitter (@SOMPatriots)Tonight is the beginning of a three game series between the Royals and the Yankees. The Royals were on a 6-game losing streak before taking 2 out of 3 against the Red Sox over the weekend. The Yankees swept the Blue Jays in 3 games and then took 2 out of 3 against the A’s over the weekend.
As far as the standings go, the Yankees are 4.5 games out of first place in the division, with the Red Sox leading the way. After the Yankees host the Royals, they will make the trip up to Fenway Park this weekend. That makes this series important in a few different ways. The Yanks need momentum going into a big weekend series. They also need to make up some ground to give themselves a chance to overtake Boston or Tampa Bay (who play each other tonight).
Yankees Record: 38-33
Royals Record: 32-38
Season Series: 0-0
Lifetime Record: 300-199 (Yankees leading)
Game 1
Tuesday, June 22 — 7:05 pm — YES Network
Probable Pitchers: Brady Singer - RHP (KC) vs. Gerrit Cole - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: It all starts with Gerrit Cole on the mound. The Yankees’ ace will have a lot of the baseball world watching once again as umpires begin their TSA-like searches of pitchers coming off of the mound. Sure, Gerrit Cole’s spin rate has dropped a little recently, but he is still able to turn up the heat and reach into triple digits with his fastball when needed. Cole has 8 wins and a 2.31 ERA this season.
The Royals will go with Brady Singer for the first game. The youngster owns a 4.76 ERA and 3-5 record this season. His last outing only lasted 3 innings.
Game 2
Wednesday, June 23 — 7:05 pm — YES Network
Probable Pitchers: Danny Duffy - LHP (KC) vs. Michael King - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Michael King has not found a groove since becoming a part of the rotation. He has thrown an immaculate inning and also leads the team with three 4-pitch innings this season. However, he now has a 4.08 ERA and is yet to record a win in 2021.
The Royals have yet to decide on a starter for Wednesday night’s game. Some candidates are veteran reliever Ervin Santana, young left-handed Kris Bubic, young right-hander Jackson Kowar, or a call-up of either Jakob Junis or Daniel Lynch.
(Update: LHP Danny Duffy was named as the Game 2 starting pitcher for the Royals.)
Game 3
Thursday, June 24 — 1:05 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Brad Keller - RHP (KC) vs. Jameson Taillon - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Jameson Taillon had a tolerable outing against the A’s (4.2 IP, 2 ER). His season ERA is now 5.59 and he has 1 win. He has a fastball and breaking ball combo that he has yet to fine tune. His changeup command has been a little off this year, too. Recently, he has thrown the fastball when in a jam.
Brad Keller has a 6.34 ERA, but has managed to grab 6 wins this year (to go with 7 losses). Keller had a 2.47 ERA in 9 starts last year, something is not clicking right in 2021.
Sluggers to Watch
Gary Sánchez is the man to watch for the Yankees right now. In 20 games since May 27, Sánchez is hitting .344 with 6 homers and a 1.127 OPS. Last series, he drove baseballs to right-center and he put one in the upper deck in left field. If he continues this tear, the Yankees lineup just got that much scarier. With some sub-par pitching on deck for Kansas City, the Kraken will show no signs of slowing. Tonight is about as high a chance as it could get that Sánchez will catch for Gerrit Cole, as the Yankees had an off-day yesterday, and Gary caught Cole for 2 innings in his last game.
Aaron Judge is slumping, but we know this will not last forever. He has 17 strikeouts over the last 7 games. After a full series at home, Judge will probably have made adjustments to put better swings on the ball this week. The YES broadcast mentioned his back shoulder dropping too low as the ball was in flight, so be prepared for him to inch that back shoulder up a bit and start driving the baseball.
Salvador Pérez is going to be an All-Star this season and deservedly so. Pérez is hitting .292 with 18 home runs this season. Between him and Gary, the catcher position should do quite a bit of the leg-work for the offenses this week. Pérez is slugging .689 against left-handed pitchers this season.
Whit Merrifield is a pest at the plate, and if he gets on base, he is running. He leads the majors with 20 steals so far this season. He also has 18 doubles, a triple, and 6 homers, so he can hit. The Yankees need to make sure Merrifield’s time on the bases is limited.
Injury Report
1B Luke Voit (oblique strain) has been activated from the injured list and will be in the lineup tonight. The Yankees sent Chris Gittens down after Sunday’s win, so this was to be expected.
RHP Luis Severino strained his groin (grade 2) while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He is now walking, doing treadmill work, and playing light catch and could return in late July or early August.
RHP Clarke Schmidt (elbow strain), and RHP Darren O’Day (strained rotator cuff), RHP Corey Kluber (right shoulder strain), and CF Aaron Hicks (wrist surgery - out for season) are all out for the series.
Schmidt recently threw all of his pitches in a bullpen session, but has not progressed to a rehab assignment yet. That could occur this week.
Kluber recently threw from 60 feet, but has not progressed to the point of mound work.
O’Day threw a bullpen session on Saturday and could begin a rehab assignment today or this week.
LHP Danny Duffy (strained forearm flexor) is not going to begin a rehab assignment, and will instead start on Wednesday night with a pitch count. He will be activated from the 10-day injured list at that time.
The Royals have the following players on the 10-day injured list who will not play this series:
OF Andrew Benintendi (fractured rib)
SS Adalberto Mondesi (strained oblique)
C Cam Gallagher (shoulder impingement)
The Royals have the following players on the 60-day injured list who will not play in this series:
LHP Daniel Tillo (Tommy John surgery)
RHP Ronald Bolaños (strained flexor)
RHP Jesse Hahn (shoulder impingement)