J.A. Happ To Start As New York Aims To Bounce Back In Oakland

The trip out west didn’t start out the way New York wanted as they had a setback on Tuesday night in Oakland.

On Wednesday night J.A. Happ will look to help his team get back on track as well as even up the series at one game a piece while Oakland will look to win the series.

New York who is leading the American League East comes into game two of their three game series with a record of 83-44 while Oakland who is a member of the American League West comes into the game with a record of 72-53 and is second in their division. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

As stated above,

J.A. Happ will start for New York. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 10-7 with a 5.40 earn run average. Happ has given the Yankees at least five innings in each of his last four starts, though he has done so with a 6.23 ERA over that span. His last effort was solid, holding the Orioles to two runs and six hits over five innings. He will oppose Oakland right -hander Mike Fiers who comes into the game with a record of 11-3 with a 3.46 earn run average. Fiers had his remarkable streak of starts in which he'd allowed three earned runs or fewer snapped last Thursday, but the offense picked him up in a win over the Astros. He still owns the second-lowest ERA (2.52) among AL starters since April 26. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for the opening game between New York and Oakland,

Domingo German has been phenomenal for New York this season stepping into the starting rotation for Luis Severino who hasn’t pitched all season because of a shoulder as well as a lat injury but in the opening game of the three game series on the west coast in Oakland the right -hander ‘s outing didn’t go as expected as he was dealt his third loss of the season.

Yankees starter Domingo German performed adequately but never recovered from yielding first-inning homers to Matt Olson and Mark Canha, which produced three runs. “accotrding to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-bailey-a-s-in-series-opener

German (16-3) ultimately allowed all six of Oakland’s runs (five earned), along with eight hits, in 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out seven. The right-hander insisted that performing with two extra days’ rest didn’t dull his skills. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-bailey-a-s-in-series-opener

The Yankees didn’t strike again until the eighth, when Judge crushed Joakim Soria’s 1-0 fastball into the left-field seats. Statcast projected that the ball traveled 467 feet, making it Judge’s longest homer of the season and his first to left field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-bailey-a-s-in-series-opener

"As long as they go over the fence and it adds runs, I’m happy with it,” Judge said. “Left or right or center. Just glad to get one.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-bailey-a-s-in-series-opener

Nevertheless, manager Aaron Boone reveled in watching Judge jolt one, which has happened a little less frequently this year. His .848 OPS, though enviable, pales alongside the corresponding figures of 1.049 and .919 that he posted in 2017 and '18, respectively. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-bailey-a-s-in-series-opener

“It was good to see him really, really destroy one there,” Boone said. “The last couple days for him have been better days at the plate, where he’s got some results and hit some balls on the screws. I was encouraged, even his first at-bat where he struck out. He got some swings off where I thought he was completing his move.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-bailey-a-s-in-series-opener

The Yankees actually out-hit Oakland, 11-9. But they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Their struggles at least partly could have been attributed to A’s starter Homer Bailey (11-8), who defeated New York for the second time this season, with the first victory coming while pitching for the Royals. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-bailey-a-s-in-series-opener

“We got a lot of hits but we just couldn’t get that hit to kind of put us over the top,” Boone said. “[There have] been a couple days of that where we’ve had some opportunities and haven’t been able to cash in.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-bailey-a-s-in-series-opener

Judge explained that Bailey’s success resulted from “just mixing his pitches. He was able to throw that slider, especially that splitter of his, in any count -- especially with two strikes -- and kind of keep us off-balance. We got a lot of hits but just weren’t able to really get that big one with guys on base.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-bailey-a-s-in-series-opener

Meanwhile Domingo German’s counterpart was on the other end of the spectrum.

Homer Bailey wasn’t around for their loss in the 2018 American League Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium, but in the first matchup between the two clubs since, he helped the A’s erase some of the bad taste left from that night with a strong outing in a 6-2 victory at the Coliseum. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

The win moved the A’s into a tie for the second AL Wild Card with the Rays. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

Bailey stumbled early on as Gary Sanchez took him deep to center for a solo blast just three batters into the game. But as the innings went along, Bailey got stronger. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

The Yankees, who entered the night with the best record in baseball and leading the Majors with 6.47 runs per game on the road, were shut down once Bailey ditched the slider in favor of his splitter. The right-hander threw the split on 32 of his 108 pitches, generating swing-and-misses with it seven times, all as the finishing pitch to a strikeout. In turn, after throwing the slider eight times in the first, he only threw it nine times in the following five frames. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

A’s first baseman Matt Olson had a pretty good view of Bailey’s split from about 90 feet away, and judging by the hopeless looks on the faces on Yankees hitters throughout the night, he could see the devastation caused by the pitch. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

“It looks pretty nasty,” Olson said. “The guys I’ve talked to say it’s pretty good. It looks like a true ‘tumble’ splitter, which is tough to hit. Not many pitchers have the true split, and he was on tonight.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

Since his arrival to the A’s via trade on July 14, Bailey’s splitter has been the pitch to decide his fate in each of his outings. Also working for him last week when he tossed seven scoreless innings against the Giants, Bailey has been able to utilize the pitch to keep hitters off-balance. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

“It allows him to pitch up and down,” Melvin said of the splitter. “He can elevate with the fastball and the split comes out of the same plane. He can throw the slider and sinker just enough. When he’s throwing strikes and getting ahead and has that pitch, as we’ve seen since he’s been here, he can be a tough customer.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

Another key for Bailey was getting ahead in the count. He worked an 0-2 count 18 times and did not issue a walk, racking up eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

It likely would have been a longer outing for Bailey had it not been for New York’s ability to keep at-bats alive. The Yankees fouled off 33 pitches against Bailey, raising his pitch count to 97 through five innings before a two-out single by Gleyber Torres in the sixth knocked him out of the game at 108. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

“The problem with those guys are they just foul off so many balls,” Melvin said. “They make you work and next thing you know, you’re at an uncomfortable pitch count. Even going out for the sixth, I felt his stuff was good, but they made him throw a lot of pitches.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

In the end, he limited the Yankees to one run on seven hits. Bailey has struggled to find success on the road early on with the A’s, posting a 10.54 ERA over three starts. But the Coliseum has been a paradise for him over four outings, now 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA at home. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

Bailey was provided plenty of run support, including back-to-back homers by Olson and Mark Canha in the first off Domingo German, marking the 11th time the A’s have gone back-to-back this year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

Sanchez hits the homer and now we have to answer,” Melvin said. “The Olson homer was huge, then Canha follows it up. You’d like to start out well, especially at home knowing we’re going to play them six times in the next 12 days or whatever it is.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

For Canha, it was his 19th home run of the season. He’s already surpassed his previous career-high of 17, but his impact this season goes beyond his numbers at the plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

Canha has been the A’s plug-in guy. He filled in at first base early in the year when Olson went on the injured list, then took over the designated hitter spot when Khris Davis went down in May. Canha is now getting regular time in center while Ramon Laureano deals with a stress reaction in his right shin. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

Canha hasn’t had time to get adjusted to any one position, yet it hasn’t shown in his play on either side. In addition to his home run, Canha also made a tumbling catch in center that prevented extra bases on a ball lined off the bat of DJ LeMahieu to lead off the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

“It’s not easy to come in when the opportunity is presented and produce the way he has,” Olson said. “I’ll put Chad Pinder in the same category. These guys don’t get everyday at-bats, but when their name is called, they can do everything. It’s a big testament to the work they put in to stay ready. Those two guys would be everyday starters on a lot of teams.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-leads-a-s-win-over-yankees

First pitch is set for 10:07pm. The game will be televised on NBCSCA, Yes and ESPN.