J.A. Happ To Open The Doubleheader As New York Faces Kansas City
On Friday night mother nature took over and caused the opener of the three game series between New York and Kansas City who to be postponed.
With that being said on Saturday New York and Kansas City will open their three game series with a doubleheader but there is a chance that mother nature could once again be the deciding factor if they get the games in or not.
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
J.A. Happ will get the start in the afternoon game. The veteran left-hander comes into the game with a record of 3-3 with a 5.16 earn run average. Unlike last season J.A. Happ hasn’t been dominant. Instead he’s been like a seesaw. Happ's up-and-down results continued in his most recent start, as he surrendered six runs and nine hits to the Orioles, yet escaped with a no-decision. The lefty's four-seam fastball has been hit particularly hard this season. 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. In the night cap of the doubleheader the pitcher for New York is yet to be decided. As for the second game, the starter for New York has yet to be decided while Kansas City will start Jorge Lopez who comes into the second game with a record of 0-5 with a 6.04 earn run average. Lopez, winless in 10 outings (nine starts) this season, will pitch the nightcap of Saturday's twin bill, bumping Kansas City's originally scheduled starter for this game, Danny Duffy, to Sunday.
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 to play a doubleheader their previous game which they split with Saint Louis.
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 for the first game of the split doubleheader is set for 2:15 while first pitch for the second game is set for 8:15pm. from Kauffman Stadium.
The first game will be televised on Yes, FSKC and Major League Baseball Network while the second game will be televised on Yes and FSKC.