CC Sabathia Tabbed For The Opener As New York Visits Kansas City
New York who is a member of the American League East hasn't had the best luck weather wise lately as they got through the bottom of the sixth inning tied at three on Tuesday May 18th in the opener at Washington while the finale on Wednesday night was postponed because of rain and both games are rescheduled for June 18th.
Will they have better luck with the weather when they visit Kansas City when they begin a three -game series beginning Friday?
New York comes in to the opener against Kansas City with a record of 28-12. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/nyy/new-york-yankees and has had two rainouts on the first part of this road trip getting through six innings in the opener against Washington of a 3-3 game while the finale was postponed. New York will return to Nationals Park on June 18th to finish the opener and play the finale. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/both-yanks-nats-games-ppd-moved-to-june-18/c-277017944
37- year old left-hander CC Sabathia will get the start for New York. He comes into the game against Kansas City with a record of 2-0 to go along with a 2.23 earn run average. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/4553/cc-sabathia Sabathia is seeking his 250th career win (including 10 postseason wins) as he opens the set with Kansas City. He is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA in five starts since returning from the disabled list on April 19, with the Yankees winning four of those starts. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Kansas City left-hander Jakob Junis who comes into the opener with a record of 4-3 with a 3.53 earn run average. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/36056/jakob-junis Junis gets the start as the Royals open a three-game series with the Yankees at Kauffman Stadium. Junis lost at Cleveland last Saturday, as he gave up six hits and four runs over 5 2/3 innings."according tohttp://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy
Kansas City meanwhile who is a member of the American League Central comes into the game against New York with a record of 13-30 "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/kc/kansas-city-royals and unlike New York Kansas City has been able to get games in with their most recent game coming Wednesday against Tampa Bay who is also a member of the American League East in a loss.
Opposing teams had scored in the first inning against the Royals in five of the previous six games entering Wednesday. That trend continued when the Rays clipped starter Jason Hammel for three in the first en route to a 5-3 victory at Kauffman Stadium. "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
In that stretch, the Royals have given up 14 first-inning runs. "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
Manager Ned Yost said the stretch of early runs given up by his rotation is likely just one of the quirks of a long baseball season. "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
"I guess," Yost said. "How else do you explain it? You have to execute pitches to get better." "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
And with a punchless offense -- the Royals are 13th in the American League in runs scored and 13th in home runs -- the deficit has become too much to overcome. They have lost five straight and seven of eight. "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
Hammel, though, like Ian Kennedy the day before, overcame that shaky start and provided Yost some length. Hammel went six innings, permitting 10 hits and five runs. He walked none and struck out two."according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
After a solid start to the season, Hammel's ERA has risen to 6.28. "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
"Beyond frustration," Hammel said, shaking his head. "Right now it's unacceptable. Giving up 3-spots in every first inning -- obviously not proud of the effort. Just got to get better." "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
Jon Jay had three hits and reached base four times for the Royals. Jay isn't pointing fingers at the rotation. "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
"Pitchers are trying to do their thing," Jay said. "... there have been days we've pitched well and the offense wasn't there." "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
The Royals had a great opportunity to do some damage in the third inning. With one out, Jay led off with a single to left. Jorge Soler was hit by a pitch and Mike Moustakas walked to load the bases. But Salvador Perez squelched the rally by hitting into a 6-4-3 double play on the first pitch. Perez now leads the team in hitting into double plays with seven, though he missed the first three weeks being on the disabled list. "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
The Royals have become fairly adept at beating the shift in another fashion: Stealing bases against it. Earlier this season, Whit Merrifield and Soler stole bases virtually uncontested against the shift and each eventually scored, leading to a win over the Tigers. Soler did it again on Wednesday in the fifth inning. After doubling in Jay, Soler took off for third with Rays right-hander Jake Faria still holding the ball. Faria stepped off the mound and would have thrown to third, but the shift had taken third baseman Daniel Robertson way out of position. Soler then scored on a sacrifice fly by Moustakas. "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
SOUND SMART
The Royals do lead the Major Leagues in one offensive statistic, albeit a dubious one. They have grounded into the most double plays with 47."according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
HE SAID IT
"It's something you have to work at. It doesn't come natural. I've had to tell myself in the middle of the game, 'Shut up.' You just got to understand the process and what we're trying to accomplish, and what the boys are going through … we're not playing sloppy baseball. We're not walking guys, making errors and making baserunning gaffes, and all the dumb stuff that tick you off as a manager. But the guys are playing hard and playing good baseball." -- Yost, on how he tries to stay upbeat during the Royals' rough start to 2018 "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
HE SAID IT
"It's something you have to work at. It doesn't come natural. I've had to tell myself in the middle of the game, 'Shut up.' You just got to understand the process and what we're trying to accomplish, and what the boys are going through … we're not playing sloppy baseball. We're not walking guys, making errors and making baserunning gaffes, and all the dumb stuff that tick you off as a manager. But the guys are playing hard and playing good baseball." -- Yost, on how he tries to stay upbeat during the Royals' rough start to 2018 "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jason-hammel-struggles-early-in-loss-to-rays/c-276992996
First pitch is set for 8:15pm from Kauffman Stadium. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-05 and FSKC "according to https://www.mlb.com/royals/schedule/2018-05