Series Preview: Series 32 vs. Red Sox
Photo Via: Adam Hunger — Associated PressFour games against the Red Sox in Boston! The Yankees are not exactly at full strength right now, but the club takes a four-series winning streak with them to Fenway Park. If the Yankees can catch lightning in a bottle and extend that streak to five series, the team’s outlook prior to the trade deadline would change drastically.
Yankees Record: 50-44
Red Sox Record: 58-38
Season Series: 2-7 (Red Sox leading)
Lifetime Record: 1,214-1,004 (Yankees leading)
Game 1
Thursday, July 22 — 7:10 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Jordan Montgomery - LHP (NYY) vs. Tanner Houck - RHP (BOS)
Game Notes: Montgomery (3-5, 4.18 ERA, 99 K).
Houck (0-2, 3.38 ERA, 15 K).
Game 2
Friday, July 23 — 7:10 pm — WPIX 11, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Gerrit Cole - RHP (NYY) vs. Eduardo Rodriguez - LHP (BOS)
Game Notes: Cole (10-4, 2.63 ERA, 158 K).
Rodriguez (7-5, 5.19 ERA, 112 K).
Game 3
Saturday, July 24 — 4:05 pm — YES Network, FS1
Probable Pitchers: Jameson Taillon - RHP (NYY) vs. Nathan Eovaldi - RHP (BOS)
Game Notes: Taillon (5-4, 4.60 ERA, 89 K).
Eovaldi (9-5, 3.57 ERA, 106 K).
Game 4
Sunday, July 25 — 1:10 pm — YES Network, TBS
Probable Pitchers: Domingo Germán - RHP (NYY) vs. Martin Perez - RHP (BOS)
Game Notes: Germán (4-5, 4.71 ERA, 80 K).
Perez (7-6, 4.16 ERA, 74 K).
Sluggers to Watch
Gleyber Torres has 3 home runs since the All-Star Break. He had 3 total prior to the All-Star Break. It will be harder for Torres to send one out the opposite way in Fenway, so if Gleyber is able to launch a homer in this series, it will be very telling that his power is back. Torres is familiar with all of the starting pitchers, aside from Houck, so he should be able to continue his opposite field approach and hitting the ball hard.
Giancarlo Stanton is the one guy that can take over a series in the Yankees lineup. The Yankees have been fortunate enough to receive extra assistance from their Triple-A call-ups, but Stanton is the man that is paid to fill this role. He loves hitting at Fenway Park, and he finally clubbed a homer against the Phillies. Expect to see Stanton put a baseball or multiple baseballs over that Green Monster.
Xander Bogaerts makes the Red Sox offense click. He is a brilliant bat-to-ball hitter and sprays the field with hits. He leads MLB with 29 doubles, and still has 15 homers on top of that.
Rafael Devers has 51 extra-base hits this season, 24 of which are homers. His 74 RBI also near the top of the league. The free-swinging third baseman loves driving in runs, so the Yankees need to keep the base paths clear before he steps to the plate.
Injury Report
RHP Jonathan Loáisiga is cleared to rejoin the team. He will likely return over the weekend in Boston, per Aaron Boone. Loáisiga was out due to testing positive for COVID-19.
OF Aaron Judge, 3B Gio Urshela, C Kyle Higashioka, LHP Nestor Cortes Jr., and LHP Wandy Peralta were all placed on the COVID-19 related injured list prior to the series against Boston. All five players tested positive for COVID-19.
1B Luke Voit (knee inflammation) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to the beginning of the All-Star Break. He is eligible to return already, but time will tell if he returns during this four game series.
RHP Michael King (finger contusion) is on the 10-day injured list and may be able to return during this series.
LF Miguel Andújar (hand/wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list and will miss this series.
OF Trey Amburgey (strained hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list and will miss this series.
RHP Luis Severino strained his groin (grade 2) while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He could return in late July or early August.
OF Clint Frazier (vertigo), RHP Clarke Schmidt (elbow strain), RHP Corey Kluber (right shoulder strain), OF Tim Locastro (torn ACL - out for season), RHP Darren O’Day (torn hamstring, surgery - out for season), and CF Aaron Hicks (wrist surgery - out for season) are all out for the series.
OF Clint Frazier’s return date is unknown at this time. After testing, it was determined that he is not experiencing vertigo, but that further tests will be needed to identify the issue.
Schmidt has yet to begin a rehab assignment, which is his next step.
Kluber is expected to return in late August or early September.
The Red Sox have the following players on the 10-day injured list who will not play this series:
UT Christian Arroyo (strained hamstring)
UT Marwin Gonzalez (strained hamstring)
RHP Matt Andriese (hamstring tendinitis)
The Red Sox have the following players on the 60-day injured list who will not play in this series:
LHP Chris Sale (Tommy John surgery)
RHP Ryan Brasier (strained calf)
RHP Eduardo Bazardo (strained lat)