Luis Cessa Making His Second Big League Start Of The Season As New York Takes On Texas
A battle of spot starters will take place on Saturday afternoon in the Bronx when right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx pitches for the Rangers against right-hander Luis Cessa of the Yankees.
Both pitchers are filling in for an All-Star starter. Cessa was called up on June 15 when CC Sabathia went on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Cessa started against Oakland last Sunday and allowed four runs in four innings. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
He was 3-6 with a 4.15 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, and 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA in nine starts and eight relief appearances for the Yankees last year. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
One of those wins came in a relief appearance against the Rangers. Cessa allowed one run in three innings on June 29 as the Yankees rallied in the ninth for a 9-7 victory at Yankee Stadium. The only run allowed by Cessa came on a home run by Adrian Beltre. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
The Yankees' pitching issues have been a significant part of their slide the past two weeks, and they hope Cessa can help plug the gap. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
"We've went through some struggles, whether it's not getting the length out of the starters that we've wanted, or not getting the production out of the bullpen with some guys struggling," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We've went through a tough spell here in the last two weeks." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
Bibens-Dirkx was called up on May 7 to work in the bullpen and has since been one of the pitchers used as a spot starter while Cole Hamels is on the disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
Bibens-Dirkx is 1-0 with a 4.86 ERA in three starts and 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in five relief appearances. He allowed five runs in five innings in his last start against the Blue Jays on Monday. This is his first appearance at Yankee Stadium, which he ranked up there with pitching at Fenway Park and against Max Scherzer in Washington. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
I'm pretty excited about it," Bibens-Dirkx said. "The checklists that a lot of people have with ballparks in the big leagues -- I got to pitch in Fenway Park, that was definitely on my checklist. Yankee Stadium is on my checklist. I'm looking forward to it." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
Aaron Judge is hitting .392 with a .919 slugging percentage in day games. That's the second-highest batting average and highest slugging percentage in the American League in day games. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos did not start Friday but could be in the lineup on Saturday against Cessa. Chirinos has nine home runs in 92 at-bats this season. The 10.22 at-bat/home run ratio is the third best in the AL. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
Cessa's fastball averages 95 mph and he throws it 39.2 percent of the time. Bibens-Dirkx averages 90.7 mph but throws his fastball 42.1 percent of the time. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238363856/bibens-dirkx-cessa-tabbed-for-matinee-in-ny/?topicId=26688732
As for New York's last game, Masahiro Tanaka and Yu Darvish had their first pitchers duel Friday as New York got the win thanks to Ronald Torreyes single.
Yu Darvish and Masahiro Tanaka matched zeros in a marvelous pitching matchup, the smallest Yankee delivered the night's biggest hit, as Ronald Torreyes laced a run-scoring single to lift New York to a 2-1 victory over the Rangers in 10 innings on Friday at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238324530/ronald-torreyes-hits-walk-off-single-for-yanks/
Ronald Torreyes drove home Gary Sanchez with the winning run after Brett Gardner cracked a game-tying solo home run off Matt Bush with one out in the ninth, the right-hander's third blown save in his last five chances. Texas scored the game's first run in the top half of the inning when Elvis Andrus came home on a passed ball. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/238324530/ronald-torreyes-hits-walk-off-single-for-yanks/
New York improved to 40-31 while Texas dropped to 36-37 on the season. New York and Boston are now tied atop the American League East.
Right -hander Luis Cessa will be on the mound for New York. He has a record of 0-1 with a 7.36 earn run average. He will make his second start of the year, coming off a loss to Oakland in which he allowed four runs in four innings. Cessa picked up his first big league win last June 29 vs Texas with three innings of -one run relief. He will take on Texas right -hander Austin Bibens Dirx who has a record of 2-0 with a 4.25 earn run average Bibens - Dirx didn't factor into the decision in Texas's loss to Toronto on Monday. He gave up five runs on five hits in five innings, although but one hit and one run of that came in the fourth when Toronto scored four runs. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-yankees/2017/06/24/491226#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491226
Will the New York offense be able to back up Luis Cessa's second start of the season? Will Ronald Torreyes help New York win the second game against Texas by singling again? Will Luis Cessa pitch well enough to give New York a chance to win? Will Texas be able to get runs off Luis Cessa? Will New York be able to get runs off Austin Bibens Dirx?
First pitch is set for 1:05 pm. The game will be televised on Yes and Major League Baseball Network. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-yankees/2017/06/24/491226#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491226