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BASEBALL

Luis Severino Gets The Start As New York Takes On Detroit In The Opener

Luis Severino who has been New York's most dominant pitcher this season will start the opener against Detroit at Yankee Stadium as he takes on Michael Fulmer.

A pair of young All-Stars will share the mound in the Bronx on Monday as the Tigers tab Michael Fulmer in a matchup with the Yankees' Luis Severino to begin a three-game series that begins just hours after the 4 p.m. ET non-waiver Trade Deadline. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/245486310/trade-deadline-nears-as-rumors-swirl/?game_pk=491674

Fulmer, the 24-year-old reigning American League Rookie of the Year Award winner, will face a power-happy Yankees lineup that includes this year's AL ROY front-runner in Aaron Judge. In a strong sophomore campaign, Fulmer has allowed the fewest home runs per nine innings (0.6) among qualified pitchers in the Majors, and he has completed eight or more innings in four of his last six starts. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/245486310/trade-deadline-nears-as-rumors-swirl/?game_pk=491674

Severino, 23, has modeled deep-inning consistency in his third MLB season, particularly of late. He's finished seven innings in five of his past six starts and is currently riding a streak of 18 innings without allowing an earned run. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/245486310/trade-deadline-nears-as-rumors-swirl/?game_pk=491674

Fulmer allowed two hits in six scoreless innings last year against New York. The only current Yankee with more than two at-bats against him is Todd Frazier, who is 3-for-14 (.214) with a double and five strikeouts. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/245486310/trade-deadline-nears-as-rumors-swirl/?game_pk=491674

 Mikie Mahtook has been perhaps Detroit's best hitter over the past two months, hitting well over .300 with a slugging percentage over .500 since June began. However, he's yet to solve Severino, who has kept him hitless in seven at-bats with four strikeouts. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/245486310/trade-deadline-nears-as-rumors-swirl/?game_pk=491674

Fulmer is known for bringing the firepower, particularly with a four-seam fastball that averages 95 mph according to Statcast. But the Yankees do fairly well against heat, with a .249 batting average on pitches thrown 95 mph or harder (eighth best in MLB). "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/245486310/trade-deadline-nears-as-rumors-swirl/?game_pk=491674

As for New York's last game against Tampa Bay, 

You win some you lose some and sometimes you get your winning streak snapped that's just how sports work.

New York has been hot as of late winning six in a row before falling to Tampa Bay by a score of 5-3 Sunday in their four -game set where they won the series taking three out of four. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

Corey Dickerson drove in a pair of runs and the Rays' bullpen fired five scoreless innings to salvage the finale of a four-game American League East showdown, a 5-3 victory over the Yankees on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

"This was a swing game, no doubt, just by the standings alone. You fall back another game or you get one back," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "These games are crucial to win. Hopefully, it carries into the next series." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

The Yankees still hold a half-game lead over the Red Sox in the division race, with Boston losing to the Royals on Sunday, but the Rays moved a game closer to the Yankees -- now just 3 1/2 games back. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

Dickerson's two-run single helped Tampa Bay win for just the third time in 11 games, sending Jordan Montgomery to the showers as the rookie left-hander was charged with four runs and six hits over just 2 2/3 innings. Trevor Plouffe and Wilson Ramos also drove in runs for the Rays before Luis Cessa entered for 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

"I just couldn't make that one pitch," Montgomery said. "It's really frustrating. You want to go deeper in the game. After the last start, I thought I was starting to get a little roll going. Baseball will humble you." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

Ronald Torreyes enjoyed the first three-RBI game of his career, slugging a two-run homer and a run-scoring double off starter Jacob Faria, who completed four-plus innings while walking five and striking out eight on his 24th birthday. Steve Cishek picked up the win in relief, while Alex Colome worked the ninth for his 30th save.  "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

Despite 16 strikeouts by their hurlers, the Yankees' six-game win streak was snapped, as they finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

"We didn't take advantage of our free baserunners," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We had some golden opportunities in the fifth and sixth and did not score. That was the difference in the game today." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

Tampa Bay relievers Sergio Romo and Dan Jennings were able to wriggle out of a second-and-third, none-out spot in the fifth inning to preserve the Rays' one-run lead. Even after a wild pitch opened first base, the Rays elected to pitch to Aaron Judge, who whiffed at three Romo sliders in a seven-pitch at-bat. Matt Holliday -- in a 9-for-64 funk -- popped out to first base, and Jennings entered to get Didi Gregorius to ground to shortstop. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

"It's just frustrating that you had an opportunity with runners on base and not able to get the job done," Holliday said. "I'm not really looking at it more than today. Today I had some opportunities and just couldn't quite get it done. It's unfortunate. I felt like we had a good chance to win that game a couple of different times." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

New York's bullpen pitched well after Montgomery's early exit, but Steven Souza Jr.'s eighth-inning double off Chad Green gave the Rays some cushion, especially when the Yanks got the potential winning run to the plate in the ninth. Souza Jr.'s drive to the gap in left-center field easily chased home Mallex Smith from second base after Smith had legged out an infield hit and stole second." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

"Souza's hit was arguably the biggest hihttp://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/t of the game," Cash said, "just to give us a little bit more breathing room." "according to tohttp://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/ 

Steven Souza Jr. lines an RBI double to left field to plate Mallex Smith, giving the Rays a 5-3 lead in the top of the 8th inning. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/


Yankees catcher Austin Romine had a painful day behind the plate. Romine was hit in the throat by a second-inning foul tip, then was drilled on the left hand by a Cishek fastball in the sixth. X-rays were negative, and Romine is considered day-to-day. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/

Austin Romine has a tough day, getting hit in the throat with a foul ball, hit in the head with a bat and hit in the hand by a pitch "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245374550/rays-beat-yankees-snap-6-game-win-streak/


"This whole series was like a playoff atmosphere. … It was good to come out with that last one and have the momentum going on the rest of the season." -- Faria, on the importance of Sunday's win

New York who is leading the American League East by 0.5 games over Boston drops to 56-47 while Tampa Bay improves to 54-52 on the season and is 3.5 games back of New York in the division in third place. 

As for Detroit's last game against Houston, 

The Tigers handed the Astros their first losing streak since mid-June and their first series loss on the road since before that.  Justin Upton's 's two-run double and grand slam supported six scoreless innings from Justin Verlander as Detroit took the rubber match of the three-game set with a 13-1 win Sunday at Comerica Park. "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

The Tigers became the first team to win back-to-back games from the Astros since the Rangers on June 12-13. Houston lost a road series for the first time since dropping two of three at Cleveland from April 25-27. "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

"We competed our tails off for three days," Upton said. "Regardless of what our record is, these guys come to compete every day. Early on [in the season], we just didn't win enough games. We're in the situation we're in, and it's nobody's fault but ours, but we can hang our hat on the fact that we came to compete every day." "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

Though Astros starter Lance Mcullers Jr.  (7-3) worked out of early trouble, the Tigers eventually wore him down before feasting on Houston's bullpen. Miguel Cabrera's second drive to the left-field fence drove in Upton as part of a two-run fifth inning before Upton's double off the high wall in right-center against Joe Musgrove helped the Tigers pull away with a three-run sixth. "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

"I don't care about my numbers, personally," said McCullers, who has a 9.64 ERA in his past four starts. "I think I've gone out there the past couple times and put the team in a bad spot with the way I've thrown, so that's more frustrating." "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

An inning later, Upton lifted an opposite-field shot off Tony Sipp for his second grand slam of the season to put Detroit into double digits, capping a five-run frame. James McCann added a two-run homer off Tyler White, who moved from first base to pitch the eighth for Houston. "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

"Honestly, it was nice to see the bats come alive and score a bunch of runs," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We have some guys who are below their norms in terms of production." "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

Verlander (6-7), Starting the day Before the non -waiver Trade Deadline with increasing chances of staying in Detroit, had his own early trouble with Houston's formidable lineup. He stranded eight Astros over the first four innings before retiring his final seven batters, earning his first win since June 27. "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

Unlike Verlander's last meeting with the Astros in May in Houston, where a three-homer inning left him with a no-decision, his potential big inning Sunday came with two walks and a single in the second, loading the bases with two outs. With American League MVP Award candidate Jose Altuve on deck, Verlander worked ahead of rookie Derek Fisher with fastballs before getting him to ground out on a curveball, ending Houston's best threat. "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

"We had [Verlander] a couple different innings where we could've broke things through and put a little bit of pressure on him," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "Couldn't come up with a big hit, which is what you need to do against the better pitchers when you get some opportunities." "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

The Astros didn't have much hard contact off Verlander, let alone any extra-base hits, but Brian McCann sent right fielder Andrew Romine racing to the corner on a drive to lead off the sixth. Romine ran down the ball for a lunging catch before crashing into the fence, preventing the Astros from getting a rally started. "according to http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/245338250/justin-upton-leads-tigers-to-win-over-astros/

Detroit improved to 56-47 with the win in the American League Central Division while Houston dropped to 68-36 on the season in the American League West. Detroit is in fourth place in the American League Central Division and is ten games back of the division leader the Cleveland Indians.

New York will now open up a three game series with Detroit starting Monday. Right -hander Luis Severino who has a record of 7-4 with a 3.03 earn run average will get the start for New York. Severino has emerged as the ace of the Yankees staff. In his last outing, he tossed seven innings of two -run ball (zero earned), while striking out nine in the teams 9-5 win over the Reds. He will take on Detroit right-hander Michael Fulmer who has a record of 10-8 with a 3.35 earn run average. Fulmer turned in a strong start on Tuesday allowing three runs in eight innings five days after being chased in the third against them. He threw six scoreless frames last year in his only start against the Yankees. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/tigers-vs-yankees/2017/07/31/491674#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491674

Will Luis Severino have a great start?   Will Detroit be able to get their offense going against Luis Severino who has been dominating the opponent this season?  Will New York be able to get their offense going against Michael Fulmer who threw six scoreless frames last season against New York? Will New York get back in the win column against Detroit after losing the finale Sunday against Tampa Bay that snapped their six game winning streak? 

First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. The game will be televised on Yes.