Masahiro Tanaka Tabbed For The Opener As New York Heads To Fenway To Face Boston

After taking the series from Minnesota who is a member of the American League Central in Minneapolis New York now heads to Massachttes to take on their American League East rival Boston in a four game series at Fenway Park.

Japanese right -hander Masahiro Tanaka will start the opener for New York on Thursday night.

New York who is leading the American League East comes into the opening game of the three game series with a record of 66-35 while Boston comes into the opening game with a record of 56-47 and is eleven games back of New York. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As stated above,

Masahiro Tanaka will start for New York. The right -hander comes into the game with a record of 7-5 with a 4.00 earn run average. Tanaka looks to extend his unbeaten streak to eight starts after picking up the win his last time out, despite permitting five runs in six innings to the Rockies. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning vs. Boston on June 29 in London. He will oppose Boston right -hander Rick Porcello who comes into the game with a record of 8-7 with a 5.61 earn run average. The Red Sox need to find a way to get the veteran righty back on track. Though Porcello is 3-1 in his last five starts, he has a 10.57 ERA over that span. Porcello's last start against the Yankees was a rough outing on June 29 in London, when he retired just one batter and gave up six runs.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York’s previous game they beat Minnesota in the finale at Target Field.

The golden championship belt that is awarded to each game's most prominent contributor finally landed in Didi Gregorius' grasp on Wednesday evening, one night after the shortstop ceded honors to Aaron Hicks despite going 5-for-5 in a seven-RBI performance. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

Gregorius was happy to do so, an appreciative nod to Hicks' game-saving catch. Now it was his turn to shine; Gregorius stayed hot as the Yankees notched their seventh victory in nine games, outlasting the Twins, 10-7, in another wild slugfest at Target Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

"It was good for me," Gregorius said. "I needed that to go one step in the right direction. I was hitting the ball all over the place, so that's one thing I can look at from this series."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

Gregorius' two-run triple highlighted a three-run fourth inning as he collected three hits, drove in three runs and finished a homer shy of the cycle. Gregorius drove in 10 of the Yankees' 30 runs in the series despite only pinch-running in the first game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

"He's using the entire field," manager Aaron Boone said. "You look at all his hits the last couple of days, it's with authority from line to line. I think he's getting really good balance and he's getting off his 'A' swing a lot. And when he does, he can get as hot as anyone." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

In a possible preview of what could await these contenders in October, reliable pitching was difficult to come by on both sides. The clubs combined for 57 runs, 80 hits across the three-game series, with the Yankees peppering Jake Odorizzi for 10 of their 15 hits in the finale. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

"Every single game was a battle, from pitch No. 1 to the end," said Hicks, who hit a third-inning homer, one night after making a sensational game-saving grab to seal an extra-inning win. "It was definitely a battle." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

High, far, gone
The deep drives were flying early and often once again, making spacious Target Field play like a bandbox. Eddie Rosario, Marwin Gonzalez and Nelson Cruz cracked homers for the Twins, with Hicks, Gleyber Torres and Edwin Encarnacion answering for the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

Minnesota and the Yanks combined to slug 20 homers in the three-game series, and when asked to describe his visit to the Twin Cities, Boone offered: "Hitterish."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

"I think the offense speaks for itself," Boone said. "Both sides are swinging it really well up and down. We're just trying to limit damage as much as we can." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

Starters out early
Another Yankees starter departed with an ugly pitching line, as J.A. Happ was charged with six runs over 3 1/3 innings. Combined with subpar outings from James Paxton, CC Sabathia and Domingo German, Yanks starters have permitted at least six runs in four straight starts for the first time since 1950. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

"Tonight [the Twins] seemed to be real patient," Happ said. "They're tough up and down, for sure." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

Odorizzi was thumped for nine runs and 10 hits across 10 innings. Mike Tauchman's two-run triple highlighted a four-run second inning, then Hicks and Torres launched solo homers in the third. Gregorius' two-run triple in the fourth effectively sealed Odorizzi's night. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

"I think it was just two real good offenses that are hot," Happ said. "Luckily, we came out on top." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/didi-gregorius-stays-hot-as-yankees-top-twins

Unlike New York,

Boston lost their previous game as they lost to Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field.

The visions the Red Sox had of a satisfying sweep at Tropicana Field started to vanish by the middle innings, and dissipated in a sea of confusion and delays in the late innings in Wednesday afternoon’s 3-2 loss to the Rays. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

With two outs in the top of the eighth, Red Sox manager Alex Cora informed the umpires he was playing the remainder of the game under protest.”according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

The controversy stemmed from Rays manager Kevin Cash moving lefty Adam Kolarek from the mound to first base after getting the first out of the inning, and then bringing him back to the mound to pitch against Rafael Devers with two outs. The confusion was over lineup placement. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

According to crew chief Angel Hernandez, Cash didn’t specify where Kolarek would go in the lineup when he initially put him at first base. Hernandez told a pool reporter that when the manager doesn’t specify, the rulebook states that the lineup placement is then up to the home-plate umpire.”according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

Hernandez placed Kolarek into the third spot in the batting order -- which was occupied by designated hitter Austin Meadows. And Nate Lowe, who came on to play first base when Kolarek returned to the mound, was in the ninth spot.”according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

“They did the pitcher moving to another position and we felt that they made some illegal substitutions,” said Cora. “It was a mess at one point. I wasn’t able to keep up with Angel. We protested the game. Let’s see where it goes.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

No matter where the protest goes, the Red Sox came away from these three games at Tropicana Field feeling good about what they accomplished. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

In the start of a 14-game stretch in which the Sox play only the Rays and Yankees, they won the first two in St. Petersburg before being narrowly defeated at the hands of nasty Tampa Bay righty Charlie Morton in the finale. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

“We won the first two games, lost the 3-2 game today,” said lefty David Price. “That’s the team that’s right there with us in the standings. For us to play good baseball after a tough series in Baltimore was good.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

Morton (12-3, 2.60 ERA) proved why he is one of the best pitchers in the Majors, holding the Sox to five hits and two runs over seven innings in which he walked none and struck out 11. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

You don’t have to tell Cora how good Morton can be when he is at the top of his game. Cora was the bench coach for the Astros when Morton put the team on his back en route to victory in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

“Charlie was good,” sad Cora. “Good fastball up in the zone. Good breaking ball later in the game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

Price (7-4, 3.66 ERA) held up his end of the duel for the most part. The lefty was staked to an early 2-0 lead in the third inning when Devers perfectly placed a two-run single through the shift and just out of the reach of third baseman Matt Duffy. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

Two mistakes -- a solo homer to Tommy Pham in the fourth and a go-ahead RBI double to Guillermo Heredia in the fifth -- proved to be the difference in the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

Given who he was facing, Price knew those mistakes were more costly than they would be on most days with the powerful Boston lineup behind him. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

“Absolutely. The way he’s thrown the baseball all season long for these guys ... that’s very impressive,” Price said. “Going against him, you get staked to an early 2-0 lead, to give that up and give up those three runs was tough.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

Looking at the big picture, Price displayed improvement from the slide over his previous three starts, when he lasted five innings or fewer each time. He went six in this one and struck out eight, giving the Red Sox four straight games in which the starting pitcher went at least six innings.

For weeks, Cora has been saying that his team will go as far as the rotation takes it. At last, the starting rotation seems to be on the upswing again. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

“We’ve been saying all along, we need these guys to not carry the team but give us a chance to win,” said Cora. “That’s the fourth start in a row that they go six-plus. If we do that on a consistent basis, our chances of getting into that streak, the one we’ve been talking about from the get-go, will improve.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

With a week to go before the Trade Deadline, there will be even more scrutiny than usual for the defending World Series champions, who have been trying all season to get back to the team they envision themselves as. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

At 56-47, the Sox travel home trailing the Yankees by 10 1/2 games in the American League East and the Athletics by two games in the race for the second AL Wild Card spot. No matter what the divisional standings show, Fenway Park should be rocking for the next four days. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

“Very big,” said Price. “That’s another team in front of us in the standings. It’s crunch time for us right now. We all understand that in this clubhouse. Just go out and win tomorrow and play good baseball.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-protest-loss-to-rays-over-substitutions

First pitch is set for 7:10pm from Fenway Park. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes.