CC Sabathia Opens Players Weekend As New York Takes On Baltimore

The New York Yankees aren't normally the team who have names on the back of their jerseys however, this weekend against Baltimore we make an exception as it's Players Weekend all around Major League Baseball.

New York comes into the  opener of the four -game series with a record of 79-47 and is second in the American League East. Baltimore meanwhile comes into the game with a record of 37-90 and is last in the division. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings

CC Sabathia who's nickname is Dub for the weekend will start the opener of the four  -game series against Baltimore. The veteran left-hander comes into the game against Baltimore with a record of 7-4 with a 3.32 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/282332/cc-sabathia Sabathia is expected to be activated from the DL following a brief stint with right knee inflammation. He last pitched on Aug. 12, firing six scoreless innings of one-hit ball vs. Texas. He's 0-1 with an 8.00 ERA in two starts vs. the O's in 2018. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Baltimore's  Alex Cobb who's nickname is COBB for Players Weekend. The right -hander  comes into the opener of the three -game series with a record of 4-15 with a 5.09 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/502171/alex-cobb Cobb has been lights-out recently, posting a 1.55 ERA in his past four starts. He allowed just one run over six innings in his only appearance against the Yankees on Aug 1. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

As for New York's previous game, 

They lost to Miami in the finale on Wednesday at Marlins Park.

Since putting on the pinstripes  Lance Lynn has  been  dominating the opponent but in the finale of the two-game series against Miami he suffered a  setback as New York split the two-game series with Miami.

Lance Lynn has been viewed as a welcome addition to a pitching staff in need of reinforcements, but the veteran ran out of gas in a five-run sixth inning on Wednesday night. Miguel Rojas' three-run homer served as the big blow, helping the Marlins snap the Yankees' four-game winning streak with a 9-3 victory at Marlins Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

Lynn stymied Miami through five innings, then dealt with traffic on the basepaths as three of the first four hitters reached in the sixth, producing a run on Austin Dean's infield single. Yanks manager Aaron Boone opted to stick with Lynn, who caught too much of the plate with a 1-2 fastball that Rojas hammered into the left-field bullpen. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

A couple of infield hits and a homer, really," Lynn said. "I made one bad pitch and it cost me three runs, and I wasn't able to get out of it. Just give me one pitch back and it might be a different ballgame." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

Miami's attack continued as Yadiel Rivera greeted reliever Tommy Kahnle with a booming double to right field, with Magneuris Sierra running through a stop sign to score the fifth run of the inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

Promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier in the day, Chance Adams allowed four runs, including JT Riddle's pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth. Boone said he used Adams in what had been a two-run game at the time because the Yanks' bullpen was taxed from Tuesday's 12-inning, 2-1 victory. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

The effort marked Lynn's second straight clunker, having permitted 10 runs in his last 9 1/3 innings (9.64 ERA). Over his first three games (two starts) following his July 30 acquisition from the Twins, Lynn allowed just one run in 16 2/3 innings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

"When you have a two-run lead going into the sixth inning, you've got to get through the sixth," Lynn said. "You want to have a quick one there so maybe you can go back out for the seventh, with the bullpen being taxed from the night before." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

Despite a climbing pitch count, Boone said the Yankees liked Lynn's sixth-inning matchups against Derek Dietrich and Rojas, a pair of right-handed batters. Rojas' homer came on Lynn's 104th pitch. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

"That has been something that Lance has done throughout his career, a guy that has routinely been able to carry his stuff deep into games," Boone said. "You don't worry as much about the pitch count, as long as you feel like the stuff is still there." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

Neil Walker built an early lead by driving in both of the Yankees' runs against starter Trevor Richards, drilling an RBI double in the fourth and lifting a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Richards allowed three hits in 5 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out nine. New York added a run in the seventh as Giancarlo Stanton legged out an infield single. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

"We didn't do a lot great down here," Boone said. "We got some big performances last night to bail us out and pick up a big win, but I thought overall we didn't play very good today. We've got to get after it, starting Friday. These are important and we've got to play better than we did tonight." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Yankees mounted a two-out rally in the seventh inning, as Luke Voit roped a pinch-hit single and Brett Gardner walked. Hard-throwing Tayron Guerrero entered and uncorked a wild pitch, setting up Stanton's run-scoring infield single to shortstop. That drew New York within two runs, but Guerrero pumped six straight fastballs in to Aaron Hicks, the last of which caught the bottom of the strike zone at 101 mph. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

SOUND SMART
Stanton's brief homecoming did not produce a milestone blast, as he left town still sitting on 299 home runs. It was a productive visit to Miami for Stanton, who went 3-for-9 with an RBI in the two-game split. He is riding an eight-game hitting streak, batting .325 (27-for-83) in August. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

HE SAID IT
"It's frustrating. ... Just got to keep going. That's the biggest thing. I say it all the time, but keep going, keep playing. Keep your head up and keep being part of the team, and picking guys up when you can." -- Greg Bird, who went 0-for-10 with four strikeouts during the Miami series, lowering his average to .202. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-falters-in-6th-inning-vs-marlins/c-291516362

Like New York, Baltimore also lost their previous game as they not only lost to Toronto but were shutout.

David Hess was dominant for seven innings, but he made one big mistake, and the Orioles' offense couldn't help him out in a 6-0 loss to the Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon at Rogers Centre. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

Hess allowed just one hit through 6 2/3 innings, but with two outs in the seventh inning, he hung a 2-2 slider that Kendrys Morales smacked for a solo homer -- the go-ahead run for the Blue Jays -- and Hess's lone hiccup. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

We were trying to go back-foot slider, and I just didn't get through it as well as I needed to," Hess said. "[It] just kind of spun in there, and he's a good hitter who's really hot right now, so that's not the guy you can do that to." "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

The 25-year-old Hess was perfect through four innings before Morales led off the fifth inning with a ground ball single to right field that squeaked by Jonathan Villar playing in the shift. He quickly recovered and retired the next three batters. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

"I felt like [fastball command] was something that was there today," Hess said. "I felt like I was able to stay under control a little bit better than I have in a few outings this year." "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

Hess allowed three hits and one run with a season-high seven strikeouts in seven innings pitched, but he was shackled with the loss, his seventh straight losing decision dating back to May 25. He threw 70 percent of his pitches for strikes, up seven percent from his season average. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

"[Hess] had a good delivery, stayed in it the whole time," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He had a lot of pitches at his disposal, and when you've got a good delivery, it kind of lends to that kind of arsenal that you can use. That was fun to watch." "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

Miguel Castro came in to pitch the eighth, but the 23-year-old reliever couldn't record an out against the bottom of the Blue Jays' lineup. He surrendered a leadoff single to Teoscar Hernandez, then walked Danny Jansen, before Richard Urena hit an RBI double to give Toronto a 2-0 lead. Jansen scored on a wild pitch, then Devon Travis got to Castro for a three-run homer before Showalter decided to pull the righty. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

"Unfortunately it wasn't a good day for me," Castro said through a translator. "I was not able to command any of my pitches, they were not working for me today, so unfortunately, I wasn't able to help my team." "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

Paul Fry came in and retired the next three batters to record his third straight clean inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

Baltimore mustered just one hit against Blue Jays starter Thomas Pannone, who was making his first Major League start. The lone hit came from Trey Mancini, breaking up Pannone's no-hit bid in the seventh inning. Pannone allowed two walks and struck out three in seven innings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082 "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

In the eighth, the Orioles put runners on first and second with one out against reliever Ryan Tepera, but they couldn't convert and were ultimately shut out for the second time in their last four games. It was the 12th time the O's have been shut out this season. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Orioles can't convert in seventh: The Orioles ended Pannone's no-hit bid in the seventh inning when Mancini led off with a single to left field. He moved to third when Adam Jones hit a fly ball that bounced off Hernandez's glove in left field for a two-bag error. But Baltimore couldn't cash in either run. Tim Beckham hit a groundout to third base, then Craig Gentry hit a weak ground ball to Pannone that couldn't score Mancini. Renato Nunez followed with a fly out to to end the inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

"We had second and third and nobody out, but you get in that mode of trying to hit a three-run homer," Showalter said. "It might have been a whole different situation if we push a run across like we should have." "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

SOUND SMART
The Orioles finished the year 0-10 in Toronto and are 1-12 against the Blue Jays with two series remaining this season. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Nunez helped keep the game close in the seventh when he robbed Travis and Russell Martin -- to end the inning -- with diving stops. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

HE SAID IT
"I think pitching is just the art of throwing off the time of the hitters, so any time that you can shift their eye levels and kind of work them in and out, the ability to execute those pitches is what you want to do, that's the name of the game." -- Hess, on working up and down in the zone against Blue Jays hitters "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/david-hess-strikes-out-7-in-orioles-loss/c-291440082

First pitch is set for 7:05pm from Camden Yards. The game will be televised on Yes and MASN. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-orioles/2018/08/24/531333?#game_state=preview,lock_state=preview,game_tab=,game=531333