Series Preview: Series 30 vs. Red Sox
Photo Via: Frank Franklin II — AP Photo(Update: The first game, originally scheduled for Thursday, July 15 at 7:08 pm has been re-scheduled to August 17th due to positive COVID-19 test results within the Yankees organization. It will be made up as a split-doubleheader on that day.)
The second half is underway and the Yankees have quite a hole to dig themselves out of. If the club is unable to do so, it will not be due to lack of opportunities. Eleven out of the next thirteen games are against the Red Sox and Rays, eight of which are against Boston. So far, Boston has swept the Yanks twice this season.
This series will be four games in the Bronx. The Red Sox are gearing up for a push for the top spot in the American League. The Yankees are looking to jump at least four games in the Wild Card standings. If the Yankees lose this series, Postseason thoughts will just about be a pipe dream.
Yankees Record: 46-43
Red Sox Record: 55-36
Season Series: 0-6 (Red Sox leading)
Lifetime Record: 1,212-1,003 (Yankees leading)
Game (Postponed)
(Update: Thursday’s game was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Yankees organization.)
Thursday, July 15 — 7:08 pm — ESPN (New Date: August 17th)
Probable Pitchers: Eduardo Rodriguez - LHP (BOS) vs. Domingo Germán - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: (Update: Domingo Germán’s start was removed due to the postponement. He will pitch out of the bullpen.) Domingo Germán last pitched on Sunday in Houston. He did so as a reliever, a role he also filled in the series prior in Seattle. This time Germán will get a chance to start. Domingo’s ERA is at 4.44 this year and he has been snakebitten by the long ball. He has surrendered 16 dingers in 17 appearances.
Game 1
Friday, July 16 — 7:05 pm — YES Network, MLB Network
Probable Pitchers: Eduardo Rodriguez - LHP (BOS) vs. Jordan Montgomery - LHP (NYY)
Game Notes: The Yankees have a decision to make here. Give the ball to Gerrit Cole on 5 days rest or to Jordan Montgomery on 7 days rest. Ultimately, this start could go to Jameson Taillon as well, if the Yankees are uncomfortable lining up Taillon for three divisional starts in a row. The likely move is to have Cole pitch on Saturday, so he lines up his next two starts against the Red Sox and Rays, and have Taillon go on Sunday.
Jordan Montgomery had a sub-par first half with some flashes of excellence. He currently owns a 4.16 ERA and a 3-4 record. He surrendered 3 earned runs in 6 innings of work in a loss to Boston in the only game he has faced them this season.
E-Rod will get the ball for the BoSox. The lefty has a 6-5 record to go with a 5.52 ERA. Clearly, he gets plenty of run support. His peripheral sabermetrics also indicate his traditional statistics should be much better. He ranks in the 82nd percentile in hard hit rate and the 88th percentile in walk rate. Righty hitters will see the fastball/changeup mix and a backdoor cutter quite often, with the occasional slider.
The Yankees promoted OF prospect Trey Amburgey prior to Friday’s game. The 26-year-old Florida native is hitting .312 at Triple-A Scranton this season with 7 homers and 15 doubles. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2015 draft, so the long road to the majors is over. He is finally here to make his major league debut. Notably, he was high school teammates with Trea Turner.
The Red Sox promoted OF prospect Jarren Duran prior to Friday’s game. He was hitting .270 with 15 homers and 12 steals at the Triple-A level. He has been playing mostly centerfield this year. Friday will mark his major league debut. The Red Sox also recalled RHP Tanner Houck. He has a nasty slider and will be a very effective weapon out of the bullpen if he is not built back up to start quite yet.
Game 2
Saturday, July 17 — 7:15 pm — FOX
Probable Pitchers: Nathan Eovaldi - RHP (BOS) vs. Gerrit Cole - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: The Yankees have not disclosed the rotation order after Montgomery on Friday, so this is a purely speculative probable. Gerrit Cole would be able to have three consecutive starts against divisional opponents if he makes the start this Saturday, without requiring a rotational re-shuffle to make it work. Cole is coming off his most dominant start as a Yankee where he threw a 129-pitch complete game shutout in his old home ballpark in Houston. He now has an ERA of 2.68 and leads the majors in strikeouts with 147 on the year. He got rocked by Boston last time out, which was in Fenway. Surely, Cole has done his homework to avoid a duplicate outing.
The Yankees sure have seen plenty of Nathan Eovaldi. The hard-throwing righty has a 9-5 record and a 3.66 ERA this season. He was named an American League All-Star. He seemingly breezes through the Yankee lineup since he joined Boston.
Game 3
Sunday, July 18 — 7:08 pm — ESPN
Probable Pitchers: Martin Perez - LHP (BOS) vs. Jameson Taillon - RHP (NYY)
Game Notes: Jameson Taillon will likely get the nod at some point in this series, and it could very well be Sunday night. The tall righty has a 4.90 ERA, which finally dipped below 5 for the first time since his first start of the season.
Martin Perez has a 7-5 record and a 4.04 ERA. The numbers do not jump out at you, but Perez is putting together a respectable season for Boston.
Sluggers to Watch
(Update: Aaron Judge was placed on the COVID-19 related injured list prior to the start of this series.)
Aaron Judge can set the tone for a big second half. His first half was exactly what you want from the big fella. The American League’s starting right fielder in the All-Star Game did not quite get a 3-day break, but hopefully it kept him focused. Judge has 21 homers and possesses the power to hit many, many more.
Gleyber Torres had about as bad of a first half as he could have imagined. It is no longer “still early” for the 24-year-old shortstop. Perhaps three days off allowed Torres to make an adjustment and start making solid contact. He has hit a few hard line drives over the past few series, but has displayed a lot of warning track power. I think we will see Torres crush a homer in this series, possibly even to the pull side, but he will be best off long term by using the opposite field approach he incorporated in 2018 and 2019.
Rafael Devers is an extra-base hit machine. This season, he has 22 homers and 25 doubles to go with a .282 average. He has seen the ball really well in Yankee Stadium and against the Yankees in general, so do not expect that to change. He has 9 RBI in 6 games against the Bombers this year.
Bobby Dalbec rocked a home run in the one series played in the Bronx this season. I expect a second half bounce-back for the slugging rookie first baseman. His raw power is undeniable, but it all comes down to bat-on-ball occurrences. He has 95 strikeouts this season to go with 10 homers.
Injury Report
(Update: OF Aaron Judge, 3B Gio Urshela, and C Kyle Higashioka were all placed on the COVID-19 related injured list prior to this series. All three players tested positive for COVID-19.
LHP Zack Britton (strained hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list before Thursday’s game.
LHP Nestor Cortes Jr. and LHP Wandy Peralta were each placed on the COVID-19 related injured list and will be out until further notice. The Yankees canceled pre-game batting practice before Thursday’s game, so it is entirely possible that further cases are either discovered or being sought out.
RHP Jonathan Loáisiga was placed on the COVID-19 related injured list, so it is unknown whether or not he will play during this 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.
RHP Luis Severino strained his groin (grade 2) while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He could return in late July or early August.
RHP Darren O’Day (strained hamstring), OF Clint Frazier (vertigo), RHP Clarke Schmidt (elbow strain), RHP Corey Kluber (right shoulder strain), and CF Aaron Hicks (wrist surgery - out for season) are all out for the series.
RHP Michael King was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 5th, so he cannot return for this series.
RHP Darren O’Day was said to have significantly strained his hamstring and is expected to miss much more than the minimum 10-day stay on the injured list.
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 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. He 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 Danny Santana (strained quad)
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)