Masahiro Tanaka To Start The Finale As New York Looks To Avoid Being Swept By Oakland

The last time Masahiro Tanaka was on the mound the Japanese right -hander utilized his fastball, slider and splitter in concert, Tanaka led the Yankees back from a lopsided defeat in the series opener for a 3-2 victory over the Indians on August 16th.

On Thursday night on the west coast Masahiro Tanaka will look to help New York not only halt their three game losing skid but look to help New York avoid being swept by Oakland in the finale while trying to halt New York’s woes on the west coast and salvage a game out of the series while Oakland meanwhile will look to sweep New York.

New York who is leading the American League East comes into the finale with a record of 83-45 while Oakland who is se who is a member of the American League West and second in their division comes into the finale with a record of 73-53. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

As stated above,

Masahiro Tanaka will start the finale for New York. The Japanese right -hander comes into the game with a record of 9-6 with a 4.56 earn run average. Tanaka has been splendid in his last two outings, limiting the Blue Jays and Indians to two runs and seven hits over 14 1/3 innings (1.26 ERA), winning both starts. Other than two solo homers, the Indians managed just two hits in 6 1/3 frames. He will oppose Oakland right -hander Tanner Roark who comes into the finale with a record of 7-8 with a 4.01 earn run average. Roark went too to toe with Justin Verlander and turned in six innings of two-run ball in a win over the Astros on Friday. He's posted a 2.55 ERA in three starts since joining the A's via trade. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York and Oakland’s previous game,

Happ lasted three batters into the fifth inning, departing with the bases loaded and nobody out. He allowed five runs in four-plus innings, hiking his ERA in his last six assignments to 8.07. The Yankees generated some late offense but lost their third game in a row to drop their still-impressive overall record to 83-45. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

What confounds the Yankees is that Happ (10-8) appears to possess decent stuff. Yet he has allowed 31 homers, ranking him among the American League’s most frequent victims of power. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

“I’m struggling to keep the ball in the park,” Happ said. “We’re trying to do everything we can between starts to try to figure out sequencing, location, execution, delivery.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who insisted that Happ will make his next start, suggested that the left-hander might try supplementing his fastball by resorting more often to his changeup and slider-cutter combination. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

“The stuff is there enough for him to go out and continue to be successful,” Boone said. “We have to continue to find a way with him … build on a lot of the positive things that are happening.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

Boone said that the pair of two-run homers that Happ yielded fit the pattern of his persistent lapses. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

With two outs in the second, Happ was on the brink of throwing his second consecutive perfect inning. Then Stephen Piscotty singled to prolong the inning. Up came Khris Davis, who belted his 18th homer of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

Boone pointed out that Piscotty got enough wood on a changeup to register his hit. Then he missed over the plate with a fastball to Davis. Boone maintained that such errors in location, when committed by Happ, often wind up as home runs. Rarely, said Boone, has a hitter proven mortal by singling or popping up. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

In the third, Happ walked Josh Phegley on another close 3-2 pitch. Again Happ committed a location mistake, surrendering a home run, this one by Marcus Semien. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

“The velocity and the life on the fastball were there,” Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

For the second night in a row, the Yankees out-hit Oakland, this time 11-6. New York went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position but still left 10 runners aboard. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

“A lot of good at-bats,” Boone said. “We couldn’t quite break through again to make it a real dynamic offensive night.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

The Yankees brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the eighth inning, but A’s relief ace Liam Hendriks struck out Aaron Judge to strand runners at the corners before completing a five-out save. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

Hendriks was asked whether he was motivated more than usual facing Judge, who homered off him in last year's American League Wild Card Game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

"Not really," Hendriks said. "You know who he is and what he’s been able to do, but it’s still a guy with a bat. My job is to get him out. I try not to look too much at who’s up, because that can get me into trouble.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-lose-to-a-s-after-j-a-happ-struggles

Meanwhile Oakland not only won yet another game but the series as well.

When Liam Hendriks pumped his right fist in the air and let out a roar after watching Aaron Judge swing through a 2-2 slider for strike three, redemption was in the air Wednesday night at the Coliseum. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

There was something extra going into the at-bat between Hendriks and Judge. The last time those two had faced off, Judge sent a ball deep into Yankee Stadium’s left-field bleachers in the 2018 American League Wild Card Game. But this time, it was Hendriks coming out on top. The right-hander punched out Judge to strand runners at the corners and end the eighth before finishing off a five-out save to secure a 6-4 win over the Yankees. The win kept the A’s in a tie for the second AL Wild Card and was the 1,200th of A’s manager Bob Melvin’s career. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“I’m assuming they replayed the home run while I was pitching, so that’s always fun,” Hendriks said. “You know who [Judge] is and what he’s been able to do, but it’s still a guy with a bat. My job is to get him out. I try not to look too much at who’s up, because that can get me into trouble.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

The strikeout of Judge came right after Hendriks set down DJ LeMahieu swinging on that same slider, but there wasn’t much time to celebrate. Hendriks had to collect himself in the dugout before heading out for the ninth, where the heart of the Yankees' lineup awaited. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

Perhaps carrying over some of the adrenaline from getting out of that big spot in the eighth, Hendriks was once again lights-out in the ninth. He threw seven pitches, all fastballs, and retired the side in order, with a groundout to short by Didi Gregorius finishing off his 15th save of the year. In all, the righty managed to retire the Yankees’ top five hitters in order, three via strikeout. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“Coming in against the one through five of the New York Yankees is not the easiest task,” Hendriks said. “Getting the five-out save is not the usual, but I went nine outs early in the year. It’s not something I shy away from.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

In the long list of players to lead the A's late-season charge -- now a season-best 20 games above .500 -- Hendriks ranks at the top. Taking over the closer role for a struggling Blake Treinen on June 22, Hendriks has brought stability to the end of games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“What he’s meant to this team this year and the acceleration from his role where he was last year all the way until this year has just been amazing,” Melvin said. “Usually, you lean on a guy for an inning. That might have been his best outing of the year.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

In his time as the A’s closer, Hendriks has racked up 42 strikeouts over 24 innings, posting a 1.50 ERA. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“He’s done that a lot of times where he’s had to get more than three outs,” A’s starting pitcher Mike Fiers said. “He’s been a blessing for us. A couple of guys struggling early on, and he’s stepped up to do what he’s been doing. It’s why we’re in this spot.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

Hendriks was in position to secure the win thanks to another impressive display of power from the A’s offense. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

Khris Davis and Marcus Semien each mashed two-run homers off Yankees starter J.A. Happ. Stephen Piscotty also homered in the 6th off Chad Green. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

For Davis, it was his 18th of the year and first since July 30 as he snapped an 0-for-17 slump. Davis entered the night batting .185 with one home run in his previous 44 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“He needed that. He’s been grinding hard,” Melvin said. “He takes this pretty seriously and has been so instrumental for this team. As consistent a power hitter as we’ve ever had around here. It’s weighing on him. It hurts. He wants to hit middle of the order and do what he normally does.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

Puk electric in debut

When top prospect A.J. Puk was called up on Tuesday, Melvin told reporters he was not going to be afraid to put the left-hander in a tough spot. The manger stayed true to his word. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

Melvin made the call for Puk to begin the eighth, inserting him into a high-leverage situation with the A’s holding a two-run lead. His fastball was as good as advertised, reaching as high as 99.5 mph on the stadium radar gun, but Puk was unable to finish the inning as he recorded one out in between issuing a leadoff walk to Mike Tauchman and allowing a single to Mike Ford. The out came on a fantastic sliding catch from Jurickson Profar to retire Cameron Maybin. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“My heartbeat was racing. I was trying my best to calm it down,” Puk said. “I walked the leadoff guy, that can’t happen. But it’s the first one. It’s out of the way. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“It was a special moment. My family was in town and they were able to see me throw in the Major Leagues. Just great all around.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

It wasn’t the ideal outing for Puk, but his ERA in the Majors remained clean thanks to Hendriks’ escape job. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“That was huge. He cleaned up my mess I left him with,” Puk said. “I wish I would have pitched a little bit better, but it’s all right.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

From the crowd of 22,017 fans who gave him an ovation as he entered the game, to the A’s players in the dugout anxiously watching from the top step, there was a certain buzz that is only reserved for young players such as Puk, Oakland’s No. 2 prospect and No. 43 overall by MLB Pipeline. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“It was definitely pretty cool. I remember my first time,” Fiers said. “Just a great experience for him. He’s definitely going to be really good.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

Puk threw 11 pitches, 10 of which were fastballs. But this one was different from your average heater. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

“Watching him out there is something special,” Hendriks said. “There’s a little bit of extra sizzle on the ball. It’s going to be special.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

First pitch is set for 9:37pm from Oakland Coliseum. The game will be televised on NBSCA and Yes.