J.A. Happ, Sonny Gray Tabbed For Doubleheader As New York Takes On Baltimore

After playing one game in the opener of the four -game series to start Players Weekend New York and Baltimore will play a doubleheader on Saturday.

New York comes into the opener of the doubleheader  with a record of 80-47 and is second in the American League East while Baltimore comes into the game with a record of 37-91 and is last in the division. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings

J.A. Happ who's nickname for Players Weekend is HAPPER will get the start in the day game. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 14-6 with a 3.84 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/457918/ja-happHapp is scheduled to pitch the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. He has won each of his four starts since being traded to the Yankees, compiling a 2.22 ERA and holding opponents to a .179 average over that span. "according to https://www.mlb.com/news/see-the-yankees-players-weekend-nicknames/c-289581842 He will oppose Baltimore right -hander Jimmy Yackbonis who's nickname for Players Weekend is Yac. He  comes into the game with a record of 0-1 with a 6.75 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/642231/jimmy-yacabonis Yacabonis will be recalled from Triple-A to start the first game of the doubleheader. It will be his fourth start of the season and third as the Orioles' 26th man. He allowed three runs on six hits in five innings against the Yankees on July 9. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy As for the second game, Sonny Gray who's nickname for Players Weekend is  Pickles will rejoin the rotation. The right -hander comes into the game with a record of 9-8 with a 5.34 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/543243/sonny-gray This will be his first start since August 1st. Gray has made four relief appearances since then, allowing three runs in 9 1/3 innings (2.89 ERA). He's 3-1 with a 4.79 ERA in four starts vs. Baltimore this year. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Baltimore right -hander Andrew Cashner who's nickname is Cash for Players Weekend. " "according to https://www.mlb.com/news/see-the-yankees-players-weekend-nicknames/c-289581842https://www.mlb.com/news/see-the-orioles-players-weekend-nicknames/c-289582028

As for the opener between New York and Baltimore, Luke Voit was the difference for New York. 

In the brief period that has elapsed since Luke Voit (Louis) stashed his gear in the Yankees' clubhouse, his new teammates have pegged him as a player who carries himself with some swagger. The rookie showed on Friday night that he has the muscle to back it up. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

A pair of timely swings may have secured more opportunities for Voit, who enjoyed his first career multi-homer game in the Yankees' 7-5, 10-inning victory over the Orioles at Camden Yards. Neil Walker (Walkie) hit a go-ahead homer in the 10th inning and Gleyber Torres (GT) also delivered a big hit, lifting New York to its fifth win in six games. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

"I know I can hit," Voit said. "It's nice to finally get some at-bats and everything felt great. It was fun and exciting with Walker hitting that ball to go ahead and me doing that too, it makes baseball so fun. I'm having a great time with these guys." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

The Yankees' production at first base has ranked among the Majors' weakest, and with Greg Bird faltering, manager Aaron Boone is open to giving Voit a legitimate chance. The former Cardinals prospect launched his first Yankees homer in the fourth inning, a two-run shot off Alex Cobb, then added a two-run shot off Cody Carroll (CC) in the 10th. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

"You swing the bat like that, you create opportunities for yourself," Boone said. "Those were quality at-bats tonight and obviously big at-bats in big spots. There are some opportunities out there to be had right now and performance matters." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

Yankees starter CC Sabathia (Dub) made a solid return from the disabled list, recovering from a shaky first inning to spin six frames of two-run, five-hit ball. Sabathia settled in after Chris Davis' (Crush) two-run single through the right side of the infield, retiring 17 of the final 20 batters he faced. Sabathia walked two and struck out eight. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

"I'm just trying to throw strikes, trying to be aggressive," Sabathia said. "I felt pretty good coming out and the ball was coming out good, so I was trying to be aggressive in the strike zone." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

"I'm just trying to throw strikes, trying to be aggressive," Sabathia said. "I felt pretty good coming out and the ball was coming out good, so I was trying to be aggressive in the strike zone." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

Torres atoned for a costly error by lashing a two-run single off Mychal Givens (Tony) in the eighth, one half-inning after booting a grounder that set up Jonathan Villar (Villi) for a two-run homer. Villar's blast spoiled David Robertson's (D-Rob) return to action after the reliever was issued a week off with a cranky right shoulder. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

The clubs swapped zeros into the 10th, when Walker's eighth home run of the season gave New York its first lead of the evening. The blast to right-center field came off Carroll, one of the three hurlers acquired by Baltimore from the Yankees in last month's trade for reliever Zach Britton (Anglada). "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

"I've just been able to find the barrel, really," Walker said. "I haven't been trying to do too much. My rhythm and timing has been good at the plate and I'm seeing the ball well, particularly from the left side. When that happens and I can get the barrel to the ball, usually good things happen." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

Making his return to Baltimore, Britton allowed a solo homer to Davis but recorded the final three outs for his first save as a Yankee. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

Making his return to Baltimore, Britton allowed a solo homer to Davis but recorded the final three outs for his first save as a Yankee. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-h

It feels pretty good," Britton said. "I wish it was 1-2-3, but they're not always easy, I know that. It feels good to get the first one under my belt."

SOUND SMART
The Yankees have recorded 80 victories in 127 games, marking their fastest march to 80 wins since 2002, when they also started 80-47. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

HE SAID IT
"I got that in St. Louis, too. I've only been here for a couple of weeks, and to get that, it's pretty cool. Playing for the Yankees and knowing how much travel we get coming to these games, it gives me goose bumps. That's why my smile was from ear to ear. It's fun stuff. It doesn't get any better than that." -- Voit, on the 'Luuuuuke' chants he heard after the second homer "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-2-hrs-zach-britton-lead-yankees/c-291765788

First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is 1:05pm from Camden Yards  . The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network. "according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-08 As for the second game, First pitch is set for  7:05pm. The game will be televised on Yes and MASN. "according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/schedule/2018-08https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-08