After a Sunday rainout in the Bronx, the Bombers hit the road for two more matchups with inter-division rivals. The Yankees travel to Baltimore for a three game set before heading to Tampa for a weekend series with the Rays. The Yankees are 4 games up in the A.L. East on both of these teams and are a half game up on the Red Sox. Here are the pitching matchups of the week and some key players the Yankees will have to neutralize.
Baltimore: CC Sabathia vs. Freddy Garcia, Phil Hughes vs. Miguel Gonzalez, Hiroki Kuroda vs. Jason Hammel.
A deep and talented lineup awaits the Yankees pitching staff at Camden Yards, led by the likes of Manny Machado and Adam Jones. The key for the Yankees is to avoid giving up big innings to this team, which means limiting the damage of Chris Davis’ powerful bat. Davis leads the Orioles in home runs and rbi’s but in 11 ab’s this year against the Yankees he has 0 homers and 0 rbi’s.
Tampa: David Phelps vs. Roberto Hernandez, Sabathia vs. Matt Moore, Hughes vs. TBA.
The Rays normally devastating pitching staff took a slight hit last week when reigning Cy Young winner David Price was put on the disabled list with a triceps injury. The Yankees will still have to deal with Matt Moore on Saturday who is 8-0 with a 2.29 era this season, including 5.1 shutout innings vs the Yankees. Kelly Johnson has been helping to carry this Rays team, hitting .375 in the month of May with 16 rbi’s. The Yankees will likely need lefty reliever Boone Logan to help limit Johnson in the later innings.
Article by Sam Jackson