New York And Chicago Look To Bounce Back In The Opener

Both teams had an off day on Thursday but on Friday New York and the Chicago White Sox will open up a three game series in the Big Apple where both teams will look to bounce back.

New York who is a member of the American League East comes into the game with a record of 5-7 while Chicago who is a member of the American League Central comes into the game with a record of 3-8.

New York’s starting pitcher is yet to be announced while Chicago will start right -hander Lucas Giolito who comes into the game with a record of 1-1 to go along with a 5.73 earn run average. Giolito has turned in one strong 2019 start -- where he took a no-hitter into the 7th -- and one start where he didn’t get through 5 innings. The right-hander will be making his first career appearance at Yankee Stadium on Friday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York’ s previous game, They were swept by Houston in the finale.

The Yankees were swept by the Astros for the first time in their history when they lost on Wednesday, 8-6. The two teams don’t have a long history -- their first regular-season meeting wasn’t until 2003 at Yankee Stadium -- but it’s notable that the Yanks have a 29-22 record all-time vs. Houston, not including the American League Wild Card Game in ’15 and the epic seven-game ALCS that went in the Astros’ favor in 2017. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

None of that mattered this week. The Yankees, sorely missing several potent bats, could catch no breaks. They didn’t pitch particularly well. Their bullpen was stretched and exploited. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

The offense was better Wednesday, but the lack of key veterans and the rawness of some of the young players was apparent throughout the series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

“We were in position to win a couple games here and we weren’t able to close the deal,” said Brett Gardner. “The injuries, we’re going to keep hearing about that every day. But that’s no excuse. I’ve said all along, we’ve got a really good team. One of the reasons we do is because of the depth that we have. That depth is getting tested.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

Wednesday’s game was arguably the most compelling of the three, with several key elements impacting the Yankees’ seventh loss of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

1) Paxton ineffective

The Yankees needed the Astros-killer version of James Paxton in this game. It didn’t happen. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

As a Mariner, Paxton had a 2.89 ERA over 12 career starts vs. Houston, and he hadn’t had a bad outing against them since July 2016. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

On Wednesday, Paxton yielded five runs on eight hits over four innings and gave up two solo homers to Jose Altuve. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

Paxton said he didn’t feel that his curveball and cutter were breaking: “For some reason, I just didn’t have that extra gear,” he said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

He threw 95 pitches. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

“To the Astros' credit, they extended some at-bats on him,” Boone said. “A lot of 3-2, 2-2 counts where they were fouling off pitches, spoiling pitches. And they were able to get to him.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

2) McHugh’s electric slider

Houston righty Collin McHugh is not an overpowering pitcher, but who needs an unhittable fastball if no one can do anything with the slider anyway? “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

Forty-six of McHugh’s 93 pitches were sliders, which served as his out-pitch for every one of his nine strikeouts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

The only hitter who had much luck against McHugh was Gardner, who connected with a leadoff homer -- on a 91.1 mph fastball. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

“[The slider] was definitely a problem for us,” Boone said. “I think he kept us honest enough with the fastball, but he had a good feel for that slider. He was throwing it short some, he was moving it off the plate away some." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

3) Sanchez strikes out

The plan was a reasonable one -- give Gary Sánchez a game off to rest his overworked legs, and use him only in a crucial situation with the game on the line. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

That moment arrived in the eighth inning, after the Yankees mounted a four-run attack on the Houston bullpen -- more specifically, on hard-throwing righty Josh James. With two outs, a one-run deficit and DJ LeMahieu on third, Boone opted to pinch-hit Sanchez for Tyler Wade. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

Houston manager AJ Hinch called on Ryan Pressly to face Sanchez, who struck out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

The inning ended with the Yanks still trailing, 7-6, and the Astros tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the inning, all but sealing the sweep. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

If there is a silver lining in all of this, it’s that the Yankees return home for their third-longest homestand of the year, and they will play three teams who are also struggling: the White Sox, Red Sox and Royals. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

“The season’s full of times when you really have to grind,” Boone said. “We’re grinding right now. It’s not easy for us right now, but we’ll come out of it.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-swept-by-astros-in-houston

Like New York, Chicago was also swept by their previous opponent as they were swept by Tampa Bay who like New York is a member of the American League East.

What has happened to Reynaldo Lopez? “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

The White Sox right-hander struggled for a third straight start to open the 2019 season on Wednesday, lasting only 4 1/3 innings during a 9-1 loss to the Rays at a frigid Guaranteed Rate Field. Chicago (3-8) lost for a fifth straight time in a game delayed 1 hour 39 minutes by rain and sleet, and it failed to get a quality start for a sixth straight game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

To keep things in perspective, Lopez has only made three starts and has plenty of time to turn things around. This is the same young hurler who posted a 1.38 ERA over his final seven starts of 2018, with 48 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings and only two home runs allowed. But neither Lopez nor manager Rick Renteria were trying to hide from the early problems. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

“They have been three bad outings. There’s no other way to say it,” said Lopez through interpreter Billy Russo. “It’s frustrating because you know that you need to do better, and you want to do better. Not just for yourself but for your team and especially for the bullpen, for the relievers.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

“No excuses, he’s just not commanding at all,” Renteria said. “Some of his misses are significant, when they are a foot or two off at times. He’s trying to put himself back on track. It’s a work in progress trying to be consistent and repeat his delivery so he can take advantage of that nice arm angle.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

As the Rays completed their sweep behind the mound dominance of Tyler Glasnow, Lopez yielded eight runs on 10 hits while walking four and striking out five. He allowed two home runs to Tommy Pham and one to Austin Meadows. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

Trouble started in the first inning when Lopez yielded a single to Meadows, Pham’s first long ball and then eventually a run-scoring single to Avisail Garcia. White Sox starters have allowed at least one run in the first in six of the last seven games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

Lopez topped out at 96.1 mph over his 104 pitches and recorded nine swinging strikes, according to Statcast. He agreed with his manager about the mechanics, adding he already has identified the minor flaws and begun working on the corrections. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

“I’ve been checking the video from last year from the good moments for the good stretches I had and yes, I can say that the problem right now is in the mechanics,” Lopez said. “Just little things I need to adjust, little things I need to be more consistent with. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

“You can fix that pretty quick. But you need to work on it. You can fix that in your side [session] or throwing flat or in the bullpen. But you need to identify and recognize where are the little things that we are doing wrong. As soon as you recognize and identify that, that’s going to be a quick fix.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

It was an ugly looking series overall for the White Sox, who allowed 24 runs to the Rays over three games and managed just two hits while striking out 11 times in six innings against Glasnow. They scored in the ninth to avoid the shutout, with Eloy Jimenez picking up his first career extra-base hit.”according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

This starting staff allowed 37 runs on 44 hits and 21 walks in 24 1/3 innings over six games on this homestand, with Lopez having allowed 18 earned runs on 22 hits in 13 1/3 innings this season. Even with those poor numbers posted, a calm Lopez believes better times are ahead. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

“We have talent here, and I know that as soon as we can turn this around, we are going to be good and we are going to be good for a long time,” Lopez said. “It’s not going to be just for a short stretch.”according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

“Right now, I know that it looks bad because it’s the beginning of the season and we have back-to-back losses. It’s going to be good and the key is to keep working and try to improve.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/reynaldo-lopez-has-rough-outing-against-rays

First pitch is set for 7:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on WGN & Yes.