James Paxton To Start The Opener As New York Host Tampa Bay
Two weeks ago New York was at Tropicana Field where they split the four game with Tampa Bay.
This week the two teams who are in first and second place in the American League East will take on each other yet again as Tampa Bay visits the Bronx starting on Monday night when James Paxton who is from Ladner, BC, Canada and who’s nickname is the Big Maple will open up the series for New York.
New York who is in first place in the American League East comes into the opening game of the four game series with a record of 59-32 while Tampa Bay who is in second place in the division comes into the opening game of the four game series with a record of 55-40 and is six games back of New York in the standings.
As stated above,
James Paxton will start the opening game for New York. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 5-4 with a 4.01 earn run average. Paxton will be facing Tampa Bay for the second time in eight days, having struck out 11 over six innings in a tough-luck loss on July 7. He permitted two runs and seven hits without a walk. He will oppose Tampa Bay left-hander Blake Snell who comes into the game with a record of 5-7 with a 4.70 earn run average. Snell will take on the Yankees for the third time in his past five starts. His last outing against New York was much more positive than the one prior: five innings of one-run ball, after he failed to get out of the first inning the start before in New York. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
As for New York’s previous game,
They bounced back in the finale against Toronto.
Gio Urshela's emergence has provided some of the Yankees' most delightful surprises, and the quick-thinking infielder continued his dream season with a pivotal hook slide on Sunday afternoon that provided the go-ahead run in yet another series victory. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Dashing toward home plate on a fifth-inning wild pitch, Urshela deftly snuck his left foot past a lunging tag attempt from catcher Danny Jansen to give New York a lead it would not relinquish. Urshela also roped a two-run single and Mike Tauchman homered as the Yankees defeated the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, 4-2, improving to 12-0-1 in their last 13 home series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
"We wouldn’t be in first place right now if we didn’t have Gio," Aaron Judge said. "The changes he made this offseason, the adjustments he made, it’s finally showing and paying off. There's no other place I’d have him be. He’s something special defensively and offensively; just get him up there with guys on base, he gets the job done." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Largely overlooked in spring camp, Urshela's stock surged after taking over as the starting third baseman in April. Having earned a reputation as a slick defender during his previous big league stops, Urshela modified his batting stance and has improved his pitch selection, yielding terrific results. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
"Every time I go out there, it's very fun playing for this team," Urshela said. "Since Spring Training when I got here, it's really fun. It's really great being here." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Urshela's stance changes took root last year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he completed the season after being acquired from Toronto in an unheralded August trade. At the urging of hitting coach Phil Plantier, Urshela focused on balancing his weight in his legs, which has helped him make louder contact while spraying the ball from gap to gap. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
"When he was coming up through the Minor Leagues, he was always a guy that made good contact, which can be a really good sign," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "Sometimes that takes a while to blossom. I’m sure there’s a lot of people that followed his Minor League career that aren’t surprised that he’s starting to swing the bat now at the Major League level." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Facing Toronto ace Marcus Stroman in the second inning, Urshela worked the count to 2-1, then smacked a 94.2 mph fastball through the left side of the infield. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
That chased home Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres with the first runs of the afternoon. It was the brand of pressurized opportunity in which Urshela has flourished this season; with runners in scoring position, the 27-year-old has batted .362 (21-for-58) while collecting 30 RBIs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
"It means I'm doing good stuff for the team," Urshela said. "I'm always trying to do it, every day." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Toronto evened the score in the fifth inning as Randal Grichuk and Eric Sogard slugged solo homers off Masahiro Tanaka, but Urshela's heady footwork put New York back on top in the home half of the frame. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Working with two outs and runners at second and third, Stroman uncorked a 94 mph, 1-1 fastball to Judge that sailed well outside, then hit the backstop and caromed unexpectedly to Jansen. As the catcher scrambled, Urshela aimed his left foot toward the front of home plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
"When I was running toward the plate, I was like, 'I've got to do something to make it safe,'" Urshela said. "I was trying to sneak around the glove. The ball bounced quickly to the glove. I tried to make a good slide." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Though Urshela was initially called out by umpire Ryan Blakney, the Yankees had the call overturned by review. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said that Jansen could have applied a better tag. Jansen agreed, saying that he should have thrown his body in front of the plate, but Stroman said he was impressed with Urshela's athleticism. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
"Just a crazy good slide by Gio Urshela," Stroman said. "It was just one of those slides where he kind of avoided him and just slid his left leg in there. It was just one of those plays that in the moment it’s hard, but Jano did a great job, just couldn’t get the tag down." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Tanaka scattered four hits, walking none and striking out five to pick up the victory, outdueling Stroman, a Medford, N.Y. product who has been mentioned as a possible Yankees trade target. If so, the audition went fine; Stroman permitted seven hits and two walks over six innings, striking out seven. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Tauchman, who stole an extra-base hit from Cavan Biggio with a diving catch to open the sixth inning, padded the Yankees’ advantage in the seventh with a solo homer off Derek Law. Aroldis Chapman worked a perfect ninth inning for his 25th save. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
"That group in there is capable of being the best team in baseball; capable of being the best team in the world," Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees
Like New York, Tampa Bay also won their previous game as they beat Baltimore.
When the Rays first kick-started the opener strategy, the club sought to use the analytics at its disposal to maximize production from its pitching staff and bullpen, one of the Majors’ best. The forward-thinking front office and manager Kevin Cash weren’t looking to necessarily flip the game on its head, but rather just try to throw an opposing offense off balance from the first pitch.
Pundits laughed and skeptics balked, but now teams across MLB are employing the strategy themselves. On Friday, the Angels showcased the leaps and bounds the opener has taken, riding the tactic for a combined no-hitter against the Mariners in an emotional game in Anaheim. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
That was step one in validation of the once-radical tactic. Could a perfect game be possible? “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
The Rays nearly did it -- the first combined perfect game in Major League Baseball history -- in a 4-1 win Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards. Ryne Stanek and Ryan Yarbrough combined for eight perfect innings before Orioles infielder Hanser Alberto led off the ninth with a single to beat the shift -- advanced managing undone by advanced managing. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
“Never,” Cash said about potentially not utilizing the shift there, after chuckling at the irony of the moment. “We got outs because of it leading up for us to be in that position.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
The feat was almost -- so very almost -- done by opener Stanek and bulk pitcher Yarbrough, close friends, locker mates, almost namesakes. The pair featured in the Rays’ first opener of the season back on April 1. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
Sunday probably eradicated any thought that the tactic might be a fad left in 2018. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
“It would have been pretty sweet to finish it off like that,” Stanek said. “If you’re the first to do something in baseball, you did something.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
Stanek struck out the first two batters he faced and retired the next four before Yarbrough -- who was recalled from Triple-A Durham just Saturday night -- came in simply hoping to balance out a season that has been Jekyll and Hyde-esque for the 27-year-old southpaw, as Cash said pregame Sunday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
That was always the plan -- to give him a short time at Durham to reset and come back up for Sunday’s game. And Yarbrough said there was nothing particularly special about his pregame throwing, or morning mood, that put the thought in his head that he was about to throw the best outing of his career. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
“Lately I feel like I’m in that sync or rhythm where everything has been going really well,” he said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
“Every time he’s come back up, it seems like he’s found a way to improve or get himself in a good rhythm,” Cash added. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
That belief reared its head Sunday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
Yarbrough and his 4.55 ERA put pedal to the metal in relief of Stanek, needing 76 pitches to retire 18 Orioles in a row before Alberto and Stevie Wilkerson put together back-to-back singles to end his day. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
“Felt pretty good about the pitch, and he just snuck it through the right side,” Yarbrough said. “Not a big deal, but just smile about it afterward and it was like, ‘Man, that would have been a cool moment.’” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
Yarbrough said he didn’t truly realize the path he was pitching on until fans started yelling to him during his warmup pitches ahead of the ninth. Stanek realized just a tad sooner. He was getting in his usual post-outing workouts and treatment when he heard TVs in the clubhouse mention the ongoing perfecto. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
“And I thought, ‘Uh, I should probably get out there,’” Stanek laughed. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
He came back out to witness his friend pick up where he left off. Stanek and Yarbrough -- with their distinctive deliveries, throwing from opposite sides of the mound -- kept the Orioles off balance and again combined for a harmonious one-two punch. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
Cash liked Stanek’s fearlessness to attack the zone after pitching on extended rest thanks to the All-Star break. For Yarbrough, it was his pitches cutting in on righties that made him so unhittable. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
“The extreme contrast and styles definitely puts a lot more strain on somebody’s lineup just because of everything that we do that’s so different,” Stanek said. “I feel like today was just a good mix between the two.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
Cash said the ninth was Yarbrough’s to lose until the hits came, and he was forced to ensure the modest 4-0 margin wasn’t suddenly thrust into danger. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
After losing it, Yarbrough refocused to strike out Chance Sisco, and in came Oliver Drake, who conceded a run, and Emilio Pagan to close out the victory -- one powered by homers from Austin Meadows and Michael Brosseau -- that may have been a little less validating by the final out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
But in the grand scheme, it was still a victory that gave the Rays three of four in the weekend series to keep pace with the Yankees -- the next name on the Tampa Bay schedule -- in the American League East chase. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
“It hurts a little bit knowing it had never been done before,” said catcher Mike Zunino, who caught James Paxton’s no-hitter as a member of the Mariners last year. “But it’s something that we’re going to be talking about for a long time.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
Something that, given its novelty as almost the first ever, will perhaps be remembered more than your run-of-the-mill lost perfect game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
“We got close,” Cash said. “Let’s go see if we can do it again next time.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/rays-combined-perfect-game-bid-ends-in-9th
First pitch is set for 7:05pm. The game will be televised on Yes and Fox Sports Sun.