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BASEBALL

Chad Green To Start As New York Steps Out Of Their Division To Take On Kansas City

The last time Chad Green started a game for Aaron Boone and New York was Sunday when New York was playing their finale against Tampa Bay. In that game he gave up back to back home runs but despite that New York won and is now leading the American League East by two games over Tampa Bay.

On Friday night Chad Green will start the opening game of the three game series against Kansas City in Missouri where he will look to redeem himself and New York will step out of their division and play a team that has about the same number of wins and losses as New York’s previous opponent in Baltimore.

New York who is a member of the American League East comes into the opener of the three game series with a record of 32-17 while Kansas City who is a member of the American League Central comes into the game with a record of 17-32. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

As stated above Chad Green will start for New York. The right -hander comes into the game with a record of 0-2 with an earn run average of 12.41. Green will make his second appearance as an "opener" this year. His last time opening a game, on Sunday, he allowed two homers to the Rays. Green has had a down year thus far, averaging more than an earned run allowed per inning of work. He will oppose Kansas City right -hander Jakob Junis who comes into the game with a record of 3-5 with a 5.69 earn run average. Junis is coming off his longest outing of the season Saturday against the Angels, as he went seven innings, giving up five runs and six hits while striking out six. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York’s previous game they swept their American League foe Baltimore at Camden Yards.

Torres walked, advanced on Sanchez's single and scored on Aaron Hicks' bases-loaded free pass as the Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the Orioles with a 6-5 victory at Camden Yards. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-Baltimore “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

They get me a day off, I just say I am ready to pinch-hit, any opportunity that I can help the team," said Torres, who is batting .465 (20-for-43) against Baltimore. "I just try to be ready every time." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

The late rally boosted the first-place Yankees to their fifth consecutive victory and their ninth straight over the Orioles. New York outscored the O's 34-21 in the series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

"We're a team that's going to score runs," Hicks said. "From top to bottom, we're going to do damage. That's the great thing about our team, is that guys can take rest days -- like I did yesterday -- and still win ballgames." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

The Yankees held a four-run lead in the eighth inning, but that evaporated as Jonathan Holder issued a pair of walks and surrendered a run-scoring Trey Mancini single before exiting. After an out, Tommy Kahnle served up a game-tying, three-run homer to Renato Nunez. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

Baltimore's Mychal Givens recorded the first two outs of the ninth, but Torres and Sanchez reached base before DJ LeMahieu walked to set up Hicks. Manager Aaron Boone said that even as the bullpen coughed up the lead, there was not a moment when he second-guessed his call to rest Torres or Sanchez.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

"To have them sitting over there in that spot was nice," Boone said. "And the fact that they were ready; it's not always easy for guys that are regulars like that, who have been sitting over there all day. We got a little bit of a lead, give it back and all of a sudden, they're prepared." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

Forced to move his feet twice by fastballs that zipped low and inside, including one that dropped his chest to the dirt, Hicks flipped the bat away in disgust after looking at ball four. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

"I wanted to get up and hit a homer," Hicks said. "I wanted to do damage in that situation. I don't like being buzzed. I wanted to do damage. That's a situation where I want to break the game open. I want to extend our lead by more than one. Just one run worked today." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

Masahiro Tanaka settled for a no-decision, but the right-hander was pleased with his effort. Chased from his previous start by a grounder that bruised his right shin, Tanaka received another scare in the second inning, when a 102.3 mph liner off Rio Ruiz’s bat struck Tanaka's right index finger, then his glove. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

Scampering to retrieve the ball and firing errantly to first base, Tanaka tapped his upper left chest, which absorbed some of the blow. Any fears of injury were assuaged as Tanaka completed six innings of one-run ball. The right-hander retired the final seven Orioles he faced, and he finished scattering five hits while walking one and striking out five. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

"I don’t know why, but something clicked," Tanaka said through a translator. "I got out of the inning with only one run and then was able to settle down. That inning when I got hit, I think there was more energy. After that, in the third inning, when I was able to settle in, it was about getting into really sound mechanics." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

Clint Frazier hit a fifth-inning homer off starter Dylan Bundy for his ninth of the year and his sixth off Baltimore pitching. New York claimed the lead in the sixth as Gio Urshela chased Bundy with a two-run single, his fourth hit in as many bases-loaded at-bats this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

"I am trying hard and I am looking for something I can hit hard to help my team," Urshela said.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

Austin Romine knocked home Thairo Estrada with a seventh-inning single, and Luke Voit hit an eighth-inning home run off Miguel Castro, his 12th. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

"I think Gleyber was letting us hit some home runs today," Voit said.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

Voit's shot opened up a four-run lead that Torres and Sanchez surely believed would keep them out of the batter's box. Instead, as Boone surveyed his lineup card in the ninth inning, they were exactly where they needed to be. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

“Anytime you can get four games, that doesn't happen very often," Boone said. "I'm really excited that we won in a lot of different ways in this four-game series. It was good to see. The guys played until the end each and every day. It's a good way to get on the plane." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-sweep-series-in-baltimore

Unlike New York, Kansas City had an off day on Thursday and unlike New York they played a doubleheader on Wednesday against Saint Louis where they won the first game but lost the second. As for the fist game Kansas City won.

Wednesday’s performance by Brad Keller was much closer to that of the ace the Royals thought they had in the right-hander. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/brad-keller-allows-two-hits-vs-cardinals

Keller turned in his best outing since April 12, when he held the Indians to one run over 6 2/3 innings. That game also happened to be his last win before Wednesday’s 8-2 triumph over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in the first game of a doubleheader.”according to https://www.mlb.com/news/brad-keller-allows-two-hits-vs-cardinals

Keller went seven-plus innings and gave up just two hits and two runs. Keller still struggled at times with his command -- he walked four and hit two batters -- and he holds the team-high mark in walks with 41 in 65 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/brad-keller-allows-two-hits-vs-cardinals

“It was a little bit more [like him],” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Still had the four walks and two hit batters, but covered it great. He didn’t let anything fester into more trouble. Just made good pitches after that. Really managed his pitch count well. Really had good stuff, really good two-seamer.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/brad-keller-allows-two-hits-vs-cardinals

Keller ended the day with 105 pitches, throwing 64 for strikes. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/brad-keller-allows-two-hits-vs-cardinals

“I definitely felt a lot of better,” Keller said. “I got ahead of guys, and it definitely helped when the offense put up a six-spot [in the third]. I was just trying to go after them.”according to https://www.mlb.com/news/brad-keller-allows-two-hits-vs-cardinals

All the offense Keller needed came during a six-run third inning highlighted by Jorge Soler’s three-run homer, his 11th this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/brad-keller-allows-two-hits-vs-cardinals

Hunter Dozier also had two sacrifice flies in the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/brad-keller-allows-two-hits-vs-cardinals

The second game of the doubleheader however didn’t go Kansas City’s way.

The Cardinals' offense needed a jolt to shake it from its fitful slumber before the conclusion of Wednesday night’s doubleheader with the Royals drifted into a nightmare. Marcell Ozuna provided the forceful wake-up call, and St. Louis slugged its way to a 10-3 victory. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

Ozuna concluded a 12-pitch first-inning battle against Royals starter Homer Bailey with a three-run home run, the first of four the Cards hit Wednesday night. Matt Carpenter (two-run, second inning), Dexter Fowler Dexter Fowler (solo, sixth inning) and Kolten Wong (three-run, seventh inning) followed in turn.”according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

I just try to put the ball in play,” Ozuna said. “I’ve been struggling at the plate. Sometimes you get your confidence coming back, and then I see a good pitch.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

“We’ve had a lot of those kinds of at-bats,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “He drove that ball, stayed on it, didn’t try to do too much and obviously a big blow to answer right back after the first game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

Wednesday’s first matchup with the Royals was a showcase of soporific swings. The Cards' hitters struggled and seemingly slept-walked through 7 2/3 innings of two-hit baseball before Ozuna delivered a two-run double and a touch of respect to the box score in an 8-2 loss in the matinee. The importance of scoring early was not lost on St. Louis' left fielder. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

“It’s big,” Ozuna conceded. “After we lost the game before, we got an early shot and we put some [runs] on the board, and that’s pretty impressive.””according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

A firm return of the club’s power stroke allowed the Cardinals to avoid being swept by the Royals and falling below .500 on the season as they await the turn of the calendar page from a dreadful May. Wednesday night’s victory was only the team’s fourth in its last 14 games, and it broke a four-game losing streak at Busch Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

“They’ve been taking it to us a little bit,” Cards starter Adam Wainwright said. “We were what, [5-13] the last 18 games coming into today? If we go [13-5 in] the next 18, it’ll be like nothing ever happened.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

Again Ozuna would start a rally in the home half of the seventh. He hit a ground-rule double, then reached home on a single by Yadier Molina before Wong put the game out of reach. Fowler delivered three hits of his own, coming only a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.”according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

Wainwright worked Kansas City's lineup through five hard-fought innings, allowing three runs on six hits and four works. He struggled some with his command, saying his breaking ball was “roll-y” and that he felt like he needed to “reset [his] sights a little bit.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

Both Wainwright and Shildt felt like some of the right-hander’s pitches were a small number of inches off the strike zone, forcing him into deeper counts.”according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

Wainwright is also a former Silver Slugger winner who takes special pride in his offensive contributions. He recorded his second hit of the season and scored on Carpenter’s home run.”according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

“It’s about time,” he said. “I used to hit on the field every time before I pitched, and I’ve gotten away from that a little bit. I don’t know why I would expect to go out and hit a really good starting pitcher’s stuff when I haven’t prepared for it physically. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

“Anything you want to be good at, you need to work at, and I haven’t been working at it like I could have.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

Wainwright was followed by John Gant, Andrew Miller, Carlos Martinez and John Brebbia. Martinez made his 2019 Busch Stadium debut in a perfect eighth inning after missing the season’s opening weeks with weakness in his right shoulder. St. Louis' bullpen would deliver four shutout innings, and only one Kansas City runner would safely reach second base after Wainwright departed the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

Bailey made his 28th career start against St. Louis, and the longtime Cincinnati Red lasted only 1 2/3 innings before being replaced by Glenn Sparkman. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

“I don’t think [familiarity] ever hurts,” Shildt said. “I think it sets you up to feel like, ‘You know what, I’m familiar with this guy, I’ve had some good swings off this guy,' and it definitely doesn’t hurt.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

Bailey's five earned runs allowed raised his season ERA to 6.13 and his career ERA against the Cardinals to 5.80. The home runs by Ozuna and Carpenter make 26 career allowed against the Cards, the most against him by any opponent.”according to https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-homer-4-times-in-win-vs-royals

First pitch is set for 8:15pm from Kauffman Stadium. The game will be televised on Yes and FSKC.