J.A. Happ Makes New York Debut In The Finale Against Kansas City

Another recent acquisition in J.A. Happ will make his New York debut as they take on Kansas City on Sunday. 

For the last three seasons J.A Happ has been a member of Toronto who like New York is a member of the American League East. 

As stated above,  J.A. Happ will make his Bronx debut today in the finale against Kansas City who is a member of the American League Central. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings

J.A. Happ comes into the finale with a record of 10-6 with a 4.18 earn run average. "according tohttp://m.mlb.com/player/457918/ja-happ Happ will make his Yankees debut on Sunday after being acquired from the Blue Jays on Thursday. The lefty recorded three consecutive losses to start July and settled for a no-decision his last time out, allowing one run through five innings. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Kansas City right -hander Burch Smith who comes into the game with a record of 1-1 with a 5.58 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/572143/burch-smith Smith will close out the series against the Yanks on Sunday. His third start for the Royals was easily his best yet, a Tuesday outing in which he tossed 6 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit and two runs in a win over the Tigers."according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

New York comes into the finale with a record of 66-37 and is 5.5 games back of their rival Boston who is leading the American League East. Meanwhile, Kansas City who is a member of the American League Central comes into the game with a record of 32-72. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings

As for New York and Kansas City's previous game,

New York won the second game of the doubleheader.

Greg Bird has been heating up at the plate over the last few weeks after hitting .184 with just six RBIs for the entire month of June, and he was due for a big hit. It came in the eighth inning of the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

After New York dropped Game 1 to Kansas City, 10-5, Bird delivered a game-tying blast to lead off the bottom of the eighth, and Aaron Hicks sent the go-ahead runner across the plate with a sacrifice fly, lifting the Yankees to a 5-4 victory over the Royals. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

"We've seen the at-bats really improve from him over the last three, four weeks. More at-bats today, I thought, and a big one there," manager Aaron Boone said. "You know, facing the lefty to go down and get that ball, I mean, he nailed it. ... There's no question in my mind over the last couple of weeks, he's really starting to feel physically strong, and I think you can tell he feels like he's in a good place." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

The Bombers were trailing in the eighth, 4-3, when Bird launched his first career game-tying home run a Statcast-projected 395 feet to right-center.Neil Walker  and  Austin Romine each followed with base hits before Gleyber Torres drew a walk to set up Hicks for the go-ahead sacrifice fly. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

"You never want to drop two in a doubleheader," Bird said. "We had a chance in the first one, and [the second one was] close the whole way; we obviously got off to an early start. Being able to get it there is huge, for sure." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

The Yankees were forced to turn to their bullpen early again on Saturday night, as CC Sabathia was pulled after tossing just 4 2/3 innings, permitting two runs on six hits. The first run came on Salvador Perez's solo shot in the third before Sabathia walked in a run in the fifth, prompting his early departure. In the sixth, Jonathan Holder gave up an RBI single to Rosell Herrera , tying the score at 3, before Zach Britton walked in Kansas City's go-ahead run in the seventh on four straight balls."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

"[Britton has] been an elite guy in this league now for a long time, and it happens," Boone said. "I think what makes these guys special -- especially a lot of our guys at the back end -- is, you've got to have a short memory. If you're going to be great at this, especially in the bullpen, you've got to be able to turn the page real quick. ... What's made them who they are is their ability to continue to pitch, turn the page and trust and go out there with confidence the next time they get the ball. And I would expect that to be the case for Zach." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

Miguel Andujar got the Yankees on the board in the first with an RBI single up the middle and Walker brought in a run on a sacrifice fly two batters later. Shane Robinson then launched his first home run in pinstripes -- and first since June 4, 2016 -- to give New York a 3-1 lead in the fourth. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

Aroldis Chapman closed out the game to record his 27th save of the season. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

SOUND SMART
Sabathia's start was his 274th as a Yankee, tying him with Bob Shawkey for eighth place on the club's all-time list. "according to SOUND SMART
Sabathia's start was his 274th as a Yankee, tying him with Bob Shawkey for eighth place on the club's all-time list. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376
 

HE SAID IT
"[My knee is] OK. I was just trying to make a play. My brace got caught in the turf and just kind of, like, flipped. I didn't really know where I was at or what was happening, but yeah, it's good for the highlight reel. [I don't worry about my knee] because I hopped up and felt good right away. It was just funny after that." -- Sabathia, on his tumble in an attempt to field a grounder toward the first-base line in the fifth inning  "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-nightcap-of-doubleheader/c-287785376

First pitch is set for 1:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-07