Sonny Gray, Doug Fister Set To Duel In The Bronx
New York and Boston will play game two at Yankee Stadium as Sonny Gray, Doug Fister will duel it out on the mound Friday night.
When the Red Sox and Yankees continue their rivalry matchup in Friday night's MLB Network Showcase Game, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia hopes to finally join in the fun. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
Boston's longest-tenured player is expected to be activated in time for the second game of a four-game series after being out of the lineup for all but one day in August. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
The Red Sox will welcome him back, especially after losing Thursday's series opener to the Yankees, 6-2, and seeing their lead cut to 4 1/2 games in the American League East. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
Is Pedroia surprised that the Red Sox enjoyed their best month of the season (18-9) without him? "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
"No," Pedroia said. "We've got a great team. We're pretty confident if one guy goes down, somebody else will step up and fill that role. We've played great baseball and I'm excited to be part of it." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
While Eduardo Nunez has filled in so well during Pedroia's absence, Friday night starter Doug Fister has done the same in place of injured lefty David Price. Fister is 3-2 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts since Price went back on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation. "according to tohttp://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
The Yankees counter with July 31 trade acquisition Sonny Gray, who recorded zero strikeouts in a start for the first time in his career when he faced Boston on Aug. 20. Gray was still able to hold his own in that game, allowing two runs over five innings. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
Though the series is big for both teams, the Yankees are feeling more urgency in their quest to inch closer to the Red Sox in the AL East. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
"We've just got to get some guys going, myself included, all up and down the lineup," said Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner. "The calendar is going to flip to a new month here pretty soon and we're running out of time to catch those guys. Obviously, we've got a big series and we'll try to take things one game at a time like we always do, but I'm sure it'll be an exciting weekend." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
One thing that would help the Yankees greatly is for Aaron Judge to heat up again. Though he is still the overwhelming favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award, Judge has struggled since the All-Star break and was dropped to the sixth spot in the batting order on Thursday. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
Including the postseason, Fister has pitched four times at Yankee Stadium in his career, going 1-2 with a 3.91 ERA. This will be the first time Fister has pitched in the Bronx since he fired 6 1/3 shutout innings for the Tigers in Game 1 of the 2012 AL Championship Series. Fister got a no-decision, but the Tigers won in 12 innings. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
Not only did Gray fail to record a strikeout in that last start against Boston, but he posted the lowest swinging-strike rate (3.7 percent) of his career. He bounced back last Saturday to strike out nine Mariners with a 16 percent swinging-strike rate that was his sixth-best in an outing of at least 100 pitches. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
Pedroia has played roughly a season's worth of games against the Yankees in his career, slashing .295/.358/.425 with 12 homers and 75 RBIs in 704 career plate appearances. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170831251685674/fister-gray-set-to-square-off-in-the-bronx/?game_pk=492105
As for Boston and New York's last game,
New York won the opener of a four game series against their American League East rival Boston Thursday.
The Yankees are not downplaying the importance of this weekend as they continue to chase the Red Sox for the top spot in the American League East, and their hopes for a meaningful September race remained alive with a 6-2 victory on Thursday evening at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
As the rivals opened a four-game set that marks their final meeting of the season, New York closed within 4 1/2 games of the top spot in the division as CC Sabathia continued his season-long dominance of the Sox with six innings of one-run, four-hit ball, improving to 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA in four starts against them this season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
"I love this, man," Sabathia said. "Especially here at the end of my career, being able to still pitch in meaningful games against the Red Sox is a lot of fun." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
Snapping a three-game losing streak, the Yanks maintained their one-game lead for the first AL Wild Card as Sabathia improved to 8-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 10 starts following a loss this year. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
"I don't think it's a coincidence," manager Joe Girardi said. "I think it's who he is and it's what's made him so great for so long. It's a guy that you've been able to count on most of his career after tough losses. There's been a number of them we've had this year and he's been the guy that pitched and got us back on track." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird each homered and drove in a pair of runs against Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who permitted five runs and 10 hits over five-plus innings. Rodriguez is winless in nine starts since returning from the disabled list for a right knee injury. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
"You try every start to do better," said Rodriguez. "That's all I'm thinking. I'm not thinking about any game in the past, I'm thinking every time I get the ball, just get on the mound and try to put the team in position to win the game." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
Sanchez's third-inning homer was his 12th in the month of August and the sixth he has hit this season off Red Sox pitching, while Bird cracked a two-run shot as part of a three-run sixth inning. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
Entering with a five-run lead, Dellin Betances made things interesting with a wobbly ninth inning that included a bases-loaded walk to Andrew Benintendi but got pinch-hitter, Mitch Moreland, to fly out representing the tying run. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
Benintendi short-circuited a third-inning rally as the rookie attempted to stretch a single and was cut down on a strong throw from center fielder Aaron Hicks after review. Though Boston grabbed a run later in the frame on a Xander Bogaerts groundout that was also reviewed, Benintendi has been thrown out on the bases 11 times this season, which is tied with Cleveland's Jose Ramirez for the Major League lead. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
"Hicks was going away from second base," said Benintendi. "He had to backhand it so I thought it was a good risk to take. Obviously, he has a good arm. I thought I got in there and I guess the replay said no." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
After losing most of the season to a right ankle injury, Bird's power stroke may be coming around just in time to help the Yankees in their playoff push. The left-handed slugger homered for the second consecutive game as part of a three-RBI performance, marking just his third homer of the season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
"I don't think you can expect anything," Bird said. "I feel like you've just got to roll with what you've got. That's something that I feel like I've learned, especially the last year and a half, two years. You can just work and go out there and play. Now it's great that I'm able to play again and be a part of this team." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
"Every game is important," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "We've got to go out and continue to play this series. I don't think we've added any greater emphasis on this. We've got to go out and execute." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
It has been a tale of two different seasons for Rodriguez. In 10 starts before going on the disabled list with a right knee injury, the lefty was 4-2 with a 3.54 ERA. In nine starts since his return, Rodriguez is 0-3 with a 5.47 ERA.
Sabathia is 5-0 with a 1.08 ERA in his last five starts against Boston, joining Mike Mussina (5-0 in 2001-02) as the only Yankees pitchers to win five consecutive starts against the Red Sox in the Divisional Era (since 1969). "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/251686902/yankees-cc-sabathia-defeats-red-sox-in-opener/
New York improved to 71-62 in the American League East and is now 4.5 games back of division leader Boston who dropped to 76-58 on the season.
Doug Fister will get the start for Boston. He has a record of 3-7 with a 4.53 earn run average. The right -hander has settled into a nice role going 3-2 with a 3.41 earn run average in five starts this will be Fister's first rivalry start against the Yankees. Fister has made one career start at Yankee Stadium giving up three runs over seven innings. He will go up against New York right -hander Sonny Gray who has a record of 8-8 with a 3.26 earn run average. Gray was brilliant in his last start holding the Mariners to a solo homer and three hits while striking out nine. Gray is 2-3 with a 2.70 earn run average in five starts since joining the Yankees, including an August 20th loss at Fenway Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/red-sox-vs-yankees/2017/09/01/492105#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492105
Will Sonny Gray pitch as well as he did against the Mariners where he gave up a solo homer and three hits to go along with nine strikeouts? Will the Boston be able to get their offense going against Sonny Gray? Will New York be able to get their offense going against Doug Fister? Will Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird homer again in game two as well as drive in runs?
First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. The game will be televised on NESN, Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/red-sox-vs-yankees/2017/09/01/492105#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492105