Masahiro Tanaka, Yu Darvish Set To Clash For The First Time In The Majors As New York Takes On Texas

There is always a first time for everything and tonight Masahiro Tanaka and Yu Darvish will dual it out on the mound as they clash 

As for New York's last game, they lost the finale to Los Angeles. 

Errors were the story of the night for New York in the finale at Yankee Stadium Thursday against Los Angeles.  Not only did New York lose the lead but the game too.

Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro flubbed Cameron Mayben's  potential double-play ball to set up a four-run Angels seventh. Kole Calhoun lifted a sac fly before Maybin stole second, advancing on an errant throw by catcher Gary Sanchez. Pujols then rifled a Dellin Betances fastball into right field for the go-ahead knock. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238116382/angels-rally-to-win-series-finale-over-yankees/

 Albert Pujols  P delivered a tiebreaking single as the Angels took advantage of a sloppy exhibition by the Yankees' defense, overcoming  Aaron Judge's Major League-leading 25th homer with nine unanswered runs in a 10-5 victory on Thursday evening at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238116382/angels-rally-to-win-series-finale-over-yankees/

"We just continue to come in with that fighter's mentality," Maybin said. "Sometimes you get knocked down, but we don't get knocked out very much." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238116382/angels-rally-to-win-series-finale-over-yankees/

Los Angeles who climbed back to .500 with a 38-38 mark, finished 4-2 against the Yankees this year, securing the season series for the first time since 2008. The Yankees (39-31) sit just percentage points ahead of the Red Sox for first place in the American League East. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238116382/angels-rally-to-win-series-finale-over-yankees/

New York lost for the eighth time in nine games despite Judge's three-run shot off Jesse Chavez, highlighting a four-run second inning. Luis Severino squandered that 5-1 lead, charged with six runs (five earned) and eight hits over six-plus innings as he lost for the first time since May 1. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238116382/angels-rally-to-win-series-finale-over-yankees/

"They gave me a good lead. I couldn't hold on to the lead," Severino said. "I was missing a lot of pitches and threw some pitches that were hit pretty hard. That's frustrating." "According to tohttp://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238116382/angels-rally-to-win-series-finale-over-yankees/

New York drops to  39-31 while Los Angeles improved to 38-38 on the season. New York will return to action Friday as they open up a three -game series with Texas at Yankee Stadium. 

Texas meanwhile has a record of 36-36  is coming off an 11-4 win over Toronto Thursday.

 After playing five straight games following his return from the disabled list with a strained hamstring, Carlos Gomez got the day off on Wednesday to rest and recover. Whatever he did on that off-day evidently did wonders, as his career day catapulted the Rangers past the Blue Jays on Thursday, 11-4.

Carlos Gomez hit two home runs, the fifth time in his career he's had a multi-homer game, and he drove in five RBIs, matching his career high. His three-run homer in the third inning put the game out of reach, clinching a split with the Jays and ensuring the Rangers finished their seven-game homestand with the .500 mark (36-36). "according to http://m.rangers.mlb.com/news/article/238124144/rangers-carlos-gomez-has-10-game-hit-streak/

Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka will be on the mound for New York. He has a record of 5-7 with a 6.34 earn run average. Masahiro Tanaka will face countryman Yu Darvish for the first time in his career while trying to bounce back from a loss to Oakland in which he allowed five runs, including three homers, in four innings he fanned 10. Tanaka has a 5.97 earn run average in his last five starts. He will go up against Yu Darvish who has a record of 6-5 with a 3.35 earn run average. Darvish is 1-3 with a 4.45 in his past five starts. He is 3-1 with a 2.01 in five career starts against New York, but all wins have been in Arlington. He is 0-1 with a 4.66 earn run average with a 4.66 earn run average in two starts at Yankee Stadium. "according to  https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-yankees/2017/06/23/491211#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491211

Will Masahiro Tanaka rebound from his outing against Oakland? Will New York rebound from their loss to Los Angeles? Will the New York offense be able to back up Masahiro Tanaka's start and get runs off Yu Darvish? Will the New York  be able to keep the lead if they get it? Will New York not commit any errors? Will Texas be able to get runs off Masahiro Tanaka? 

First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. The game will be televised on FSSW and Major League Baseball Network. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-yankees/2017/06/23/491211#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491211