Masahiro Tanaka To Start The Finale As New York Looks To Sweep Boston
After winning the first two games of the series New York is looking to sweep their division rivals on Thursday night.
New York comes into the finale with a record of 93-58 and is second in the American League East while Boston comes into the finale with a record of 103 -49 “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings and is looking to not only salvage a win out of the series but win the division title.
Masahiro Tanaka will get the start for New York. The Japanese right -hander comes into the finale with a record of 12-5 with a 3.47 earn run average. “according to http://m.mlb.com/player/547888/masahiro-tanaka Tanaka has fired 20 consecutive scoreless innings, a string that he will look to carry into the series finale vs. Boston. In 11 starts since July 15, Tanaka is 5-3 with a 2.15 ERA. “according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Boston left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez who comes into the finale with a record of 12-4 with a 3.53 earn run average. “according to http://m.mlb.com/player/593958/eduardo-rodriguez Rodriguez is making his fourth start since returning from the disabled list. The first and third were both solid, and he struggled in the second one. Rodriguez is 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA in seven career starts at Yankee Stadium. “according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy
As for New York and Boston’s previous game, New York won in a blowout.
Luke Voit homered twice as part of a career-high four-hit performance, supporting Luis Severino's sterling seven-inning outing. The Yankees kept the beer and bubbly shelved in the visiting clubhouse for a second consecutive evening, preventing the Red Sox from celebrating the American League East with a 10-1 rout on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
We don't want them to clinch here," Voit said. "They're our rival and we're going to try to do everything we can. We've been cold as a team and we haven't been our New York Yankees. It's huge to get [Aaron] Judge and Didi [Gregorius] back healthy, and Gary [Sanchez] and [Aroldis] Chapman. It's scary how good this team is going to be. We're looking to do some damage in the playoffs." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
With 11 games left in the regular season, the Yankees hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the A's for the top AL Wild Card spot. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
Miguel Andujar hit his 25th homer as the Yankees battered familiar opponent David Price and Severino bounced back from an inconsistent second half to compile one of his best starts in weeks. Severino snapped a three-start winless streak, capping his six-hit, six-strikeout effort with a curveball that froze Mookie Betts for a called third strike. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
"Every time we face the Red Sox, it's a huge series, huge game," Severino said. "I think facing a team like this brings out the best in everybody. My mindset today was to go over there and go after everybody. My last start before this wasn't that bad. I was feeling good, too, so I know I'm getting on track again." according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
Boston's only run off Severino came on Sandy Leon's fifth-inning single. With the Yankees eyeing a potential AL Wild Card Game, Severino could be bypassed in favor of Masahiro Tanaka or J.A. Happ, both of whom have pitched more consistently of late. But manager Aaron Boone said that the Yanks will need all three to pitch well if they intend to be the last team standing.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
Price has lost all six of his starts at Yankee Stadium since joining the Red Sox, thumped for six runs (four earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Andujar opened the scoring with a second-inning homer and third baseman Eduardo Nunez muffed an Aaron Judge grounder that chased home another two runs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
The barrel-chested Voit cleared the right-field wall with an opposite-field shot in the fourth, then went deep again to the same area in the sixth for a two-run blast, charging around the basepaths with his top jersey button undone as Price was dispatched to the showers. Price has allowed 33 runs in 30 1/3 innings (9.79 ERA) when pitching for Boston in the Bronx. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
We wanted to take it to these guys," Voit said. "Obviously probably down the line in the playoffs we're going to face them again. We want to get hot at the right time going into those games and it's nice to have a big night. We have to get this offense rolling. It's been dragging the last couple of weeks. That was a big game for us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
Aaron Hicks added a two-run triple off Joe Kelly, part of a three-RBI performance. Justus Sheffield, the Yankees' top-rated prospect according to MLB Pipeline, recorded the final three outs in his Major League debut. Sheffield loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before getting Betts to ground into a game-ending double play. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
"I was trying to breathe as much as I could, trying to settle down," Sheffield said. "Didi was out there and telling me to slow down and breathe. That's what I just kept doing. I knew that sooner or later if I kept doing that, I was going to make the right pitch." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
SOUND SMART
Voit's second homer gave the Yankees a Major League-leading 245 blasts for the season, equaling a franchise record set by the 2012 s”quad. With nine homers since joining the Yanks, Voit is one deep drive shy of becoming the 12th player on the roster with a double-digit home run total, which would set a Major League record. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voits-homers-deny-sox-chance-to-clinch/c-295295134
First pitch is set for 7:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-09