New York Heads Out West To Take On Oakland

After splitting the four-game series  with Detroit New York will head out west to open a three game series against Oakland beginning on Labor Day. 

New York who is a member of the American League East comes into the game with a record of 86-51 and is in second place in their division. Oakland who is a member of the American League West comes into the game with a record of 82-56 and is second in their division. "according to  http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

The veteran CC Sabathia will get the start in the opener  for New York. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 7-5 with a 3.36 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/282332/cc-sabathia A Bay Area native, it’ll be a homecoming of sorts for Sabathia when he opens an important three-game series in Oakland on Monday. He’s struggled in his career against his hometown A’s, going 5-7 with a 5.20 ERA over 16 starts at the Coliseum. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Oakland right -hander Trevor Cahill who comes into the opener with a record of 5-3 with a 3.60 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/502239/trevor-cahill Cahill has excelled at the Coliseum this year, with an 0.85 ERA in eight home starts, compared to a 7.02 ERA in nine road outings. He crumbled in Houston on Wednesday, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and six walks in 3 1/3 innings. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

As for New York's previous game, they lost to Detroit in the finale. 

A month ago, the Yankees traded for Lance Lynn to plug a leaky rotation that struggled to get consistent production from its back end, particularly the No. 5 slot. A month later, they still have the same problem. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

Which is why it was with some irony that Sonny Gray was called upon to relieve Lynn on Sunday, when Lynn's shortest start in pinstripes led to an 11-7 loss to the Tigers at Yankee Stadium. Lynn was acquired largely to offset the struggles of Gray, whom he supplanted in the rotation after the non-waiver Trade Deadline. His issues in the time since could put his spot in jeopardy, especially after allowing six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings to a Tigers lineup stocked with rookies. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

"Rough day for him," said Josh Bard, who managed the Yankees on Sunday in place of the suspended Aaron Boone. "But we believe in him a lot, and he's going to be a big part of this thing moving forward." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

Bard would not specify what role Lynn would have, but the door is open for the Yankees to make a rotation swap the next time they need a fifth starter, should they decide to do so. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

"What we try to do here is put guys in the best possible position to succeed," Bard said. "So when we get to that point, we'll see." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

In Gray, Luis Cessa and the recently recalled Jonathan Loaisiga, New York has three pitchers in its 11-man bullpen who have also started this season. Gray's bullpen role has been limited, but he's produced in it: His relief ERA sits at 2.70 after tossing four innings of one-run ball on Sunday. The eight starts that Loaisiga (the club's No. 3 prospect) and Cessa have combined for helped patch together the rotation before the trades for Lynn and J.A. Happ. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

The hard reality is that although the Yankees have options to help them get to October, none is likely to pitch significant innings once they're there. Advancing in the postseason would require only four starters; Lynn's outing on Sunday was the latest effort in a cold stretch that, if nothing else, has likely removed his name from that conversation. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

"I have to be better next time out," Lynn said. "That's all there is to it." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

The bulk of the damage came in Detroit's 5-run fourth, when rookies Ronny Rodriguez, Dawel Lugo and Victor Reyes -- who combined to go 6-for-6 off Lynn -- set the stage for JaCoby Jones' two-run double, which chased Lynn, and Nicholas Castellanos' two-run homer off reliever Tommy Kahnle. Lynn also surrendered runs on a Niko Goodrum single in the first, and Reyes' RBI double in the second. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

"Jam single, six-hopper single, beat fastball, double down the line, chopper down the line, double," Lynn said. "That's what happened." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

Though the Yankees remain 35 games above .500, this was their fourth loss in seven games against the Tigers and White Sox, both non-contending teams. And after holding opponents to one run over his first 16 2/3 innings with the Yankees, Lynn now has a 9.16 ERA across his last four starts. He's allowed at least five runs in three of those. All have come against clubs with sub-.500 records. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

"When you look at my season as a whole, I've had bad stretches where I've had good stuff, and then I've gone out there and had a game where I've gone six innings, no-run baseball with the [worst] stuff of the year," Lynn said. "You have to keep attacking and keep doing everything you can to help the team win. That's all you can do." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Trailing by five in the eighth, the Yankees staged a comeback that, despite only yielding one run, came within inches of tying the score. After RBI singles by Miguel Andujar and Neil Walker narrowed Detroit's lead to three runs, Bard summoned Greg Bird to pinch-hit with the bases loaded. The move itself was notable: Bard chose the struggling Bird over Giancarlo Stanton, who was given the day off but was available. Knowing the threat of Stanton loomed, Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire kept right-hander Victor Alcantara in to face the left-handed-hitting Bird. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

The gamble worked -- barely. Bird pulled a 0-1 fastball 343 feet to the right-field wall, where Reyes hauled it in to end the threat and leave the bases loaded. By the time the Yankees pushed two runs home an inning later, the Tigers had added three more to their lead. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

"I got it good," Bird said. "I knew I didn't get it, get it. But I got it good. I was jumping a little bit, but it came up a little short." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

SOUND SMART
Starting over Bird for the ninth time in 11 games, Luke Voit belted an opposite-field solo homer off winning pitcher Matthew Boyd in the fourth. It was Voit's fifth home run in 17 games with the Yankees since being acquired from the Cardinals. The 27-year-old hit five home runs in 70 total games over parts of two seasons with St. Louis. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974
DOINK!
Andujar could sense danger coming as he sprinted down the third-base line in the first on Gary Sanchez's single. He must have, because seconds before scoring, he raised his left hand to his helmet to shield himself from Mikie Mahtook's throw from left field. The baseball plunked him after it sailed inside the line, allowing him to scoot home safely, unhurt. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

FLASH THE LEATHER
Two newcomers made a defensive impact in the third, when Adeiny Hechavarria and Andrew McCutchen took away hits with sprawling catches. Making his first start at shortstop in pinstripes, Hechavarria lunged to his right to snare a line drive from Castellanos. A batter later, McCutchen raced in and left his feet to rob Goodrum. Both were acquired in trades on Aug. 31. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

HE SAID IT
"I could pout and be just a distraction for the team, but I'll keep my head up and keep going. It's life. It's baseball. I'm not going to put my head down, and I'm not going to pout. ... It's great. He's doing a great job. It's awesome. It's good for our team. We have a goal here, and that's to win. He's doing his job, and I have to do mine, whatever that is. That's how I look at it. It's fun seeing your teammates having success." -- Bird, on Voit, who has leapfrogged him on the first-base depth chart in recent weeks "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/lance-lynn-struggles-in-loss-to-tigers/c-293016974

As for Oakland's previous game, Like New York had to settle for a split with Detroit Oakland  had to settle  for a split in their series with Seattle.

Edwin Jackson overcame a rickety start to hush qualms about the rotation, at least for a day, and the A's woke just in time to salvage a four-game series split with the Mariners and hold ground in the postseason race Sunday afternoon. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

Jackson's admirable efforts, sprawled across six innings of one-run ball, were at the forefront of an 8-2 victory at the Coliseum, which also featured a pair of homers from Stephen Piscotty that helped the A's distance themselves from their American League Wild Card competition -- on the scoreboard and in the standings."according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

"It was definitely a must-win game," Jackson said. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

The win pushed the A's  5 1/2 games ahead of the Mariners with 24 to play; they remain two behind front-leading Houston, pending the outcome of the Astros' game against the Angels on Sunday night. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

"The difference between 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 games is pretty significant, especially now that we're into September, so that was a huge game," Piscotty said. "Even though every game is important, that was a big one." "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

Sunday began in much the same way Saturday ended: A's manager Bob Melvin fielded a handful of questions pertaining to the club's unsuccessful pitching experiment. Saturday's loss featured an "opener," plus eight more pitchers, and afterward Melvin promised a break from the bullpenning practice, assuring Jackson would indeed start the finale. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

The veteran right-hander responded with a quality start -- Oakland hasn't gotten many of them of late -- following a shaky first inning, and the offense rewarded him with a mid-game outburst against longtime nemesis Felix Hernandez , who faced the minimum through the first four innings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

Piscotty connected for his 20th homer to tie the game in the fifth, and the A's broke through in the sixth with an onslaught of singles, including a go-ahead, two-run base hit from Marcus Semien to send Hernandez out of the game with no outs. The A's kept at it against Nick Vincent with two more singles from Matt Chapman and Jed Lowrie  that led to another run, and Piscotty capped the busy inning with a sacrifice fly. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

Jackson, who yielded three hits in the first but none thereafter, was deemed done after 77 pitches in favor of a trusty bullpen. Fernando Rodney , who began his A's tenure with 11 scoreless innings, was tagged for a run in the eighth, prompting Melvin to call on closer Blake Treinen for four outs. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

The right-hander delivered for his 35th save, but not before Piscotty went deep again, smashing a three-run homer in the eighth for his third career multi-homer game and finishing with a career high-tying five RBIs. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

"It's not coming as easy for us as it was, but it's not going to be easy all year long, so today was a bit of a test," Melvin said. "We had to go out there and do the best we can to win the game today and create a little bit more distance. Certain times a split feels a little bit better than others. This is one of them. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Five days prior, Jackson carried a 3-1 lead into the fifth inning in Houston, remaining in the game even when he loaded the bases with two outs as Alex Bregman stepped to the plate. Jackson was hit for a game-tying double, a sequence of events he thought back to when he was allowed to return for the sixth to face the heart of Seattle's lineup on Sunday. Jackson retired Robinson Cano  Nelson Cruz and Denard Span on 13 pitches to cap his day. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

"It's been a tough stretch for the starting staff, myself included," Jackson said. "So it was kind of imperative for me to go out and pitch deep in the game. Secondly, it was huge in preserving the faith of Melvin, having trust in me to go out and finish the inning. Last game in Houston, I wasn't able to do that. That was in the back of my mind today, to go out and finish the inning strong, have a clean inning and get the job done and preserve that faith." "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

Added Melvin: "I know we have 100 guys down there, but we used quite a few of them last night and we were in position to use our plus guys today. So to be able to get it to six made it a lot easier to finish the game." "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

SOUND SMART
The A's now have five players with at least 20 home runs, tying the franchise record. Only the Yankees have more this year, with six. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Matt Joyce , who drew a critical pinch-hit walk following Chad Pinder's leadoff single in the sixth, ignored a stop sign from third-base coach Matt Williams, just beating the throw home on Semien's go-ahead hit. Joyce, playing in his first game with the A's since July 4 following a lengthy rehab from a back injury, responded emphatically when he emerged from his slide. "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

"When your head's down, it's tough to see the stop sign," Melvin said, smiling. "Matt Williams is not a guy you want to tangle with when he's upset, but it's a results-based industry. If you're safe, it's OK. If you're out, it's not." "according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/edwin-jackson-as-split-series-with-mariners/c-293063042

First pitch is set for 4:05pm. The game will be televised on Yes and ESPN. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-09