Luke Voit Returns For New York As J.A. Happ Takes On Former Team In The Bronx
There have been a lot of players on the injured list this season for the guys that dawn the pinstripes.
One of those stints was short lived though as first baseman Luke Voit is making his way back to the Bronx.
Prior to Friday night’s series opener against the Blue Jays, manager Aaron Boone revealed that Voit – who has been on the injured list since July 2 – was currently on his way back to New York. Voit had spent time rehabbing his abdominal strain in Tampa. New York plans to activate him for Saturday’s game, according to Boone. “according to https://www.nj.com/yankees/2019/07/yankees-announce-luke-voits-return-date-when-will-he-be-back-in-lineup.html
New York who is leading the American League East comes into the second game of this three game series with a record of 58-31 while Toronto who is fourth in the division comes into the game with a record of 34-58. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
In this game New York will aim to win the series while Toronto will aim to bounce back from their series opening loss to begin the second half of the season and knot up the series in the Bronx while former pitcher J.A. Happ will be facing his former team and looking to help New York win the series.
As stated above,
J.A. Happ will start the game for New York. Last season after he was traded at the July 31st deadline. The veteran left-hander had a record of 7-1 with his only loss coming to Boston in in the ALDS after he came over from Toronto. This season however he hasn’t been as dominant as he has a record of 7-4 with a 5.02 earn run average. However, he has been good against his former team. One of Happ’s best starts of the season came in Toronto on June 6, when he held his former team to one run on four hits and no walks over seven innings. He will oppose Toronto left-hander Clayton Richard who comes into the game with a record of 1-5 with a 6.23 earn run average. Richard is looking to improve on a first half in which he made only nine starts after starting the season on the injured list with a knee injury. The 35-year-old left-hander owns a career 3.63 ERA in three starts and 17 1/3 innings against the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
As for the opening game between New York and Toronto,
New York won the opener.
Domingo German is no Luis Severino but I would say the right-hander has done a brilliant job in filling in for his fellow right -hander who has yet to make an appearance this season because of a shoulder injury as well as a lat injury.
Domingo German has a record of 11-2 with a 3.40 earn run average. “according to https://www.mlb.com/player/domingo-german-593334
His brilliance continued as New York opened the second half of the season against Toronto who like New York is a member of the American League East.
Making his second start since returning from the injured list, German struck out seven over six brilliant innings on Friday night, leading the Yankees to a tidy 4-0 victory over the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
"You always want to be economical out there," German said through an interpreter. "You want to go as deep as you can in a game. Coming back from the injury, I knew I didn’t have that many pitches. I tried to make an effort to get through the innings as quickly as possible." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
Edwin Encarnacion belted a three-run double to highlight a four-run fifth inning, and Brett Gardner had a big night on the basepaths and in the field, legging out a triple and throwing out a runner behind German, who baffled with a high-spin curveball that generated 13 swings and misses. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
"I thought the breaking ball was really good tonight," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "Really, the first couple of times through, you could tell it was giving them a problem. A lot of good hitters took some funky swings at it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
After beginning the season 9-1 with a 2.60 ERA, the 26-year-old German turned in three subpar efforts, attempting to pitch through a left flexor strain that eventually cost him about a month. German returned to pitch last week to fire six innings of one-run ball, picking up the victory in the Subway Series finale at Citi Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
He was even better in front of the Yankees' fifth sell-out crowd of the season, an energetic party of 47,162. Coming off an All-Star break in which he tossed a bullpen session at the Yanks' Dominican Republic complex, German scattered three hits and did not issue a walk, saying that he felt great command of his fastball, curveball and changeup. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
“He’s got pretty nasty stuff," Gardner said. "Just his composure out there; he acts like he’s been here before. No situation is too big for him. When guys get on base, he makes his pitches, and he’s a guy who’s a lot of fun to play defense behind." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
Though German was supremely economical, tossing only 78 pitches as he retired 15 consecutive batters between leadoff singles in the first and sixth innings, Boone said he sensed signs of fatigue as Toronto's hacks seemed to improve. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
Tommy Kahnle worked the seventh and Chad Green pitched the final two frames to polish off the shutout. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
"We weren't going to go too far with him tonight anyway," Boone said. "All in all, I thought he did a great job of really just being efficient, working fast and setting the tone for us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
German's 78 pitches were the fewest by a Yankee in a scoreless start of at least six innings since Chase Whitley (75) on July 22, 2014, against Texas. German improved to 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA in seven games (six starts) at Yankee Stadium this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
"He’s looked great out there," Encarnacion said. "I faced German one year or two years ago. He looks a lot better. He has confidence, and he throws the pitch wherever he wants to throw it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
The crispness of German's arsenal is encouraging for the Yankees, who had quietly mulled how they would handle his rolling odometer, having never thrown more than 125 innings in a season. By relieving that issue, the injury may have been a blessing in disguise. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
While acknowledging that German has earned his place in the rotation, Boone suggested that there are a variety of ways he could help the club down the stretch if general manager Brian Cashman accomplishes his goal of adding at least one front-line starting pitcher. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
"[German] can fill so many pretty exciting roles for us: whether it's as a starter, whether it's as that guy that can give you multiple innings in a key spot out of the bullpen, or whether it's a high-leverage spot late, you'd feel good handing him the ball," Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-l
With the July 31 Trade Deadline about 2 1/2 weeks away, German said he will understand if his job description changes for the postseason push. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
"At the end of the day, we’re a team here," German said. "For me, my responsibility is to keep doing my job as a pitcher. If we get somebody else here, we’re going to welcome that person and hope that person comes in and helps us win too." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-leads-yankees-in-shutout
While Toronto meanwhile was on the other end of the spectrum to begin the second half of the season.
After an encouraging start from Aaron Sanchez to send the Blue Jays into the All-Star break, Toronto was hoping to see more of the same as it began the second half of the season on Friday at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
And that’s what the Blue Jays got from the 27-year-old right-hander, despite a 4-0 series-opening loss to the American League East leaders. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
“He pitched well,” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. “I mean, that’s an outstanding lineup, as you guys know. So he gave us a chance through four and then he struggled in the fifth of course, but that’s two good outings to me. The last two outings have been good, in my opinion.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
On Friday, the home team’s big inning came in the fifth. To that point, Sanchez had held the Yankees off the board and allowed three hits, just one for extra bases. New York left fielder Brett Gardner led off the inning with a triple, coming around on a groundout one batter later to break the scoreless tie. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
All four of the Yankees’ runs crossed the plate in Sanchez’s fifth and final inning of the night, after he battled through the remnants of a sickness that plagued him during the break. To that point, Sanchez had held the Yankees off the board and allowed three hits, just one for extra bases. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
New York left fielder Brett Gardner led off the inning with a triple, coming around on a groundout just one batter later to break the scoreless tie. Sanchez then allowed a one-out double to Aaron Judge, a single to Aaron Hicks and loaded the bases after hitting Gary Sanchez with a pitch. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
“Because his last outing was good, and today he was pitching so well that he earned my trust to let him have a couple more hitters to see if he could get out of it,” Montoyo said. “And he did.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
Sanchez did, but not before his former teammate Edwin Encarnacion came to the plate and cleared the bases with his 10th double of the season. Despite the rough frame, Toronto’s righty was still encouraged by the outing as a whole. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
“A hundred percent,” he said of finding progress. “It’s the first time I’ve seen my ball moving with that type of velocity. Today I felt like the old me, so I’m pleased. I felt like if I wasn’t going through this [illness], I could have gone out there and maybe I wouldn’t have [allowed] that four-spot in the fifth, but I’m pleased.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
The Blue Jays’ starter finished the frame, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts, and Sanchez felt as though he continued progress in settling into his delivery after tinkering with it throughout the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
“We did some things in my delivery that wasn’t really me, that I look back on and I wish I would have found a little earlier,” Sanchez said. “But I haven’t pitched really, healthy, in two years, so it’s one of those things [where] if my body feels good, I’m going to go out there and compete. I know all that other stuff will come, and that’s what’s happening.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
Searching for a level of comfort in his arm slot and release point early in the year -- and battling through a number of finger issues, including blisters and nail avulsions -- Sanchez is also encouraged by how he’s felt lately with where he’s at when the ball leaves his hand.”according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
“I do think I’m there,” he said. “I knew it was going to take a while. Every injury that I’ve had has been with my fingertips, and that’s the last thing that controls the ball, so you just plug away. I’m not going to shy away from it. My body felt good, I’m going to go out there and make starts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
“I knew the reps were one thing that was going to help me get to where I needed to go, and I take it for what it’s worth. The numbers are what they are. You can’t look back. You’ve got to keep on moving forward, and now that I finally feel like I’m at where I need to be, hopefully this all takes off.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
The loss was Sanchez’s 13th of the season, the most in the Majors, but looking ahead to the second half of the year, he hopes the positives are something he can build on and utilize the rest of the way. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
“A successful season is making starts, compared to the last few years,” he said. “Now if I can continue to do what I’ve done the last two starts, and stay strong and keep my velo up and command the ball like I have been, it’s a plus.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-fades-vs-yankees
First pitch is set for 1:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on Yes, SNET , TVA Sports and Major League Baseball Network.