New York Opens Their Final Road Trip Of The Regular Season With Tampa Bay
On Monday New York will start their final road trip of the regular season beginning with four games against Tampa Bay who like New York is a member of the American League East.
New York comes into opener of the four game series with a record of 95-60 while Tampa Bay comes into the opener with a record of 87-68. “according to https://www.mlb.com/standings
New York has yet to announce their starter for the opener. Tampa Bay meanwhile has announced their starting pitcher for the opener. Diego Castillo will start the opener for Tampa Bay. The right -hander comes into the game with a record of 3-2 with a 3.25 earn run average. “according to http://m.mlb.com/player/650895/diego-castillo Castillo will make his 11th appearance as the Rays opener Monday. He’s coming off a one-inning one-run outing in his last opportunity as the opener. This season, he’s allowed three runs over seven innings against the Yankees.”according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy
As for New York’s previous game, they lost in the finale to Baltimore on Sunday.
After Yankees manager Aaron Boone referred to the rest of the schedule as "really important," they gave one of those contests away on Sunday. J.A. Happ hurled five solid innings, but A.J. Cole blew the lead, serving up back-to-back home runs to Tim Beckham and Renato Nunez in the sixth. The Orioles kept the Bombers in the ballpark for a 6-3 victory in the final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium this season. The Yanks remained 1 1/2 games ahead of the A's after Oakland fell to Minnesota. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
"We have guys who have stepped up for us a lot this year and that's part of it," Boone said. "That's part of a team and a 25-man roster. You've got to kind of lean on everyone, especially on certain days when you know it's going to be like that." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
With his higher-leverage relievers unavailable -- Boone said that he couldn't call upon Dellin Betances, Aroldis Chapman or Jonathan Holder -- the ball was handed to Cole, who was effective earlier this season but has pitched to a 9.60 ERA since July 31. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
Trey Mancini greeted Cole with a double and Beckham slugged a game-tying homer before Nunez's blast chased the right-hander. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
We had him for the righties, which is where he's been the most successful all season, and [rookie Stephen] Tarpley up with him in case they hit a lefty in a spot," Boone said. "He just hung a breaking ball today and got hurt." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
DJ Stewart came off the bench to lift a sacrifice fly off Tommy Kahnle to cap Baltimore's four-run sixth inning, then stroked a run-scoring double off Luis Cessa in the eighth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
"We fell behind a couple of times facing those guys over there," catcher Gary Sanchez said through an interpreter. "You can't get down. We lost this game. We have another one tomorrow." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
Happ permitted a run on five hits, but needed 107 pitches to get the ball to the sixth inning. He has allowed one or no runs in four consecutive starts, and six of 10 since being acquired by the Yankees on July 26. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
"I think today was a game I was hoping to get deeper into the game," Happ said. "I was battling out there, trying to keep it close and keep the lead. I would've liked to get another inning or two, but we got some pretty decent results for the time I was in there." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
One day after celebrating the 54th postseason berth in franchise history, the Yankees seemed primed to make it a long day for the last-place Orioles in the first inning, especially when Alex Cobb was forced to exit after four pitches due to a recurring blister issue. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
Three walks set up a Gleyber Torres sacrifice fly and run-scoring singles from Miguel Andujar and Sanchez, but Mike Wright Jr., Ryan Meisinger, Tanner Scott, Cody Carroll and Mychal Givens permitted the Yanks nothing else the rest of the way. The Yankees finished with 53 home wins, their best performance since 2009 (57). “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
"We just stalled out offensively," Boone said. "It's a frustrating way to end this homestand, but we've just got to get past it and get up." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
SOUND SMART
Miguel Andujar had two of the Yankees' four hits, marking his 51st multi-hit game of the season. Andujar is just the fifth Yankees rookie since at least 1913 to reach that mark, joining Joe DiMaggio (66 in 1936), Earle Combs (65 in 1925), Tom Tresh (54 in 1962) and Ben Chapman (52 in 1930). “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
HE SAID IT
"It's really frustrating; now I'm not playing. We're going to take it day to day. We'll see how far it goes, but I have some movement in there. They say things like this happen to other players. Some of them have played through it. We're going to see how it goes. If it feels better, I'll be back in there so we can still make that playoff decision." -- Gregorius “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/ja-happ-solid-but-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-295753352
As for Tampa Bay’s previous game, they topped Toronto on Sunday.
Blake Snell showed why he deserves to be a top candidate for the American League Cy Young Award as the 2018 season comes to a close. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
The 25-year-old left-hander held the Blue Jays scoreless, striking out 11, over 6 2/3 innings to temporarily stave off elimination for the Rays and record his 21st win of the season in a 5-2 victory over Toronto at Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
I think he's pretty much cemented his case that he belongs not just in the conversation, but right at the top of the list," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
Snell has been one of the breakout stars of 2018. He posted a 4.04 ERA in 2017 and struggled with his command for much of the year, but this season has been a completely different story. Coming into Sunday, he had dropped his walks per nine from 4.1 to 3.1 and lowered his WHIP by 0.36. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
Snell's 1.90 ERA and 21 wins lead the AL. Coming into Sunday, he ranked sixth in the AL in strikeouts per nine for qualified starters, with 10.65, and he trailed only Chris Sale in pitcher's WAR, according to Baseball Reference. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
"If today wasn't a final nod, then I don't know what is," Kevin Kiermaier said. "The guy is just absolutely dominant." “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
Snell's AL Cy Young Award resume is only lacking innings pitched. He's only thrown 175 2/3 innings this season due to an extended period on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder fatigue. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
"He's at the mercy of me pulling him out of the games," Cash said. "So blame me if it's the 200-inning mark, if that's that big of a deal." “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
If he wins the AL Cy Young Award, he would become the first AL starter to capture the Award without logging 200 innings in a non-strike shortened season. Dennis Eckersley is the last AL pitcher of any kind to win the award without logging 200 innings in a non-strike shortened season. Clayton Kershaw took home the National League Cy Young award in 2014 with a 1.77 ERA in just 197 innings pitched.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
Sale and Trevor Bauer are both considered AL Cy Young Award contenders, but neither will log 200 innings this season and Sale -- whose ERA sits at 2.00 -- may not qualify for the ERA title. Other candidates include Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber who have each logged 200 innings pitched this year and have posted ERAs sub-3.00. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
"I'll think about [winning the Cy Young Award] after Saturday," Snell said. "Right now I'm just locked in." “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
Snell's 21st win broke David Price's team-record of 20 wins set in 2012. He was helped out by C.J. Cron and Brandon Lowe. Cron finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. In the eighth inning, he took a low fastball over the left-center field wall for his 28th home run of the season. After Joey Wendle walked in the next at-bat, Lowe homered to right field to give the Rays a 5-0 lead. “ “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
"You just get the sense that their guys pitch really tough," Cash said. "You want to get as many as you can because we saw it unfold two nights, three nights ago." “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
"You just get the sense that their guys pitch really tough," Cash said. "You want to get as many as you can because we saw it unfold two nights, three nights ago." “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
Andrew Kittredge got into trouble in the eighth inning when a pair of leadoff singles came around to score, pulling Toronto to within three. But Ryne Stanek came in to relieve Kittredge and got Randal Grichuk to pop out to finish the inning. Sergio Romo pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his 23rd save of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
Blue Jays starter Ryan Borucki allowed two runs on three hits over seven innings pitched. He walked four and struck out seven. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Tommy Pham advanced to second on a one-out bunt attempt from Matt Duffy in the sixth inning. It appeared Duffy was attempting to bunt for a single, but the play was ruled a sacrifice bunt. The curious bunt attempt paid off as Cron hit a ground-rule double in the next at-bat that wouldn't have scored Pham had he stayed on first. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
"He was trying to bunt for a single," Cash said. "With the lefty on the mound and their first baseman holding the guy on, I think he saw an open lane and just didn't quite get it hard enough." “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
"He was trying to bunt for a single," Cash said. "With the lefty on the mound and their first baseman holding the guy on, I think he saw an open lane and just didn't quite get it hard enough." “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
SOUND SMART
Pham went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. He has now reached base in 25 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the AL. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Kiermaier made a pair of stellar catches. He snagged a low liner from Jonathan Davis just before it hit the turf to end the third inning. The catch was scored a 4 star catch by Statcast™. An inning later, he sprinted hard into the right-center field wall to track down a deep flyball from Grichuk. The play was scored a 5 star catch by Statcast™, but Kiermaier injured his left shoulder on the play and was later removed from the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
"I'm used to it," Snell said, "I'm not surprised, he's that good, but it's huge, it helps me a lot, it gets me more locked in, more pumped up and I need it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
HE SAID IT
"No, when do they play? The Oakland Raiders?" -- Cash, when asked if he'll be watching the A's Sunday afternoon “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
Oakland can clinch the second AL Wild Card spot and eliminate the Rays with a win over the Twins. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/blake-snell-earns-rays-club-record-21-wins/c-295749522
First pitch is set for 7:10pm from Tropicana Field. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network, Yes “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-09 and Fox Sports Sun. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/schedule/2018-09