James Paxton Eyes Eleventh Straight Win As He Looks To Help New York Bounce Back As They Head To Texas

James Paxton has been New York’s most consistent starter in the rotation lately.

How consistent?

Last time out James Paxton’s consistency continued against Toronto as the left-hander picked up his tenth straight victory as well as his fifteenth on the season as New York beat Toronto 7-2. . “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/giancarlo-stanton-hits-first-hr-since-returning-from-il

On Friday night James Paxton will look to help New York bounce back from their recent loss as well as pick up his eleventh straight win when New York opens a three game series in Arlington against Texas.

New York who is the American League East Champion comes into the opening game of the three game series with a record of 102-57 while Texas who is a member of the American League West and finished third in their division this season”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings/2019-09-26 and is 19.0 games back in the Wild Card Standings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings/wild-card/2019-09-26 comes into the opening game of the three game series with a record of 76-83. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings/wild-card/2019-09-26

As stated above,

James Paxton will start for New York. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 15-6 with a 3.73 earn run average. Paxton is riding a career-best 10-start winning streak dating to Aug. 2, a span over which he has pitched to a 2.25 ERA and limited opponents to a .167 batting average and a .514 OPS. He credits increased use of his curveball for the turnaround. He will oppose Texas left-hander Joe Palumbo who comes into the opening game with a record of 0-2 with a 9.22 earn run average. Palumbo has pitched three scoreless innings over two relief appearances since his return from the injured list. He had been sidelined since Aug. 20 with a blister on his left thumb. In those two games, he did not allow a hit, walked two and struck out five. This will be his fourth big league start.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York’s previous game,

They were swept by Tampa Bay in the finale of their two game series at Tropicana Field.

The offense was unable to gain traction against Charlie Morton and four relievers as the Yankees absorbed a 4-0 defeat on Wednesday evening at Tropicana Field, completing a sweep of the two-game series.

Morton held the Yankees hitless until DJ LeMahieu's opposite-field single with two outs in the sixth inning. It was the only hit New York managed against the righty, who walked three and struck out nine, and the Yanks were held hitless the rest of the game. Tampa Bay has won each of Morton’s five starts this month. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

He was hitting his spots,” LeMahieu said. “He had good velo as always, and that curveball is a good pitch. He was tough today. I feel like we battled and had the same mindset we had all season. It's just kind of a weird couple of days for us offensively.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Joey Wendle hit a leadoff homer and Brandon Lowe punched a run-scoring single off Loaisiga in a two-run first inning. Loaisiga is auditioning to make the playoff roster as a reliever. Matt Duffy’s sixth-inning RBI double accounted for the run off Happ, who walked one and struck out six. It was Happ’s first relief appearance since July 27, 2015. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

“It’s another building block for him,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s doing it under different circumstances for a guy who has had a long stretch of starts. Hopefully he continues to build momentum down the stretch.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Avisaíl García hit an eighth-inning homer on the only pitch that Luis Cessa threw, and the Yanks fell to 12-4 in games where they have used an opener. They are 11-3 with Chad Green, who would likely get the call if they were to try an opener in a potential Game 4 of the American League Division Series, and 1-0 with Stephen Tarpley. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Nothing doing

The Yankees have been held scoreless for 18 consecutive innings, marking their longest streak since they were blanked in 33 consecutive innings from Sept. 22-25, 2016, according to STATS. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Wednesday marked the Yanks’ second shutout loss of the season, following a Sept. 2 game against the Rangers. They have been blanked twice in their last 21 games after going 220 games without being shut out, the second-longest streak since 1900. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

“This is a big reason why they are in this position and fighting for a playoff spot, because they can really pitch and their run prevention is really good,” Boone said. “If you’re not really on top of your game up and down the lineup, they can have nights like this -- especially when they turn to Charlie, who really has been their ace.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-solid-in-relief-in-yanks-loss-to-rays

Unlike New York, Texas won their previous game as they topped Boston who like New York is a member of the American League East.

Rangers pitcher Mike Minor established career highs in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts in a 7-5 victory over the Red Sox on Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

A fifth-inning grand slam by Danny Santana and seventh-inning home runs by Willie Calhoun and Rougned Odor were the big blows as Minor earned his 14th win of the season and finished the year with 208 1/3 innings pitched.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

But it was Minor’s 200th strikeout, recorded in the ninth inning against Red Sox infielder Chris Owings, that caused a postgame stir. Minor’s much-anticipated strikeout came after Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzmán deliberately let a foul popup drop to prolong Owings’ at-bat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

That did not sit well with Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“I don’t know,” Cora said. “I’m just happy our guys are playing the game the right way. We’re playing hard until the end.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

Rangers manager Chris Woodward responded by pointing out the Red Sox were deliberately trying to keep Minor from getting the last strikeout by swinging at the first pitch. Minor set the side down in order in the eighth on just three pitches. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“It got gut-wrenching as a manager,” Woodward said. “I didn’t love the idea that we dropped a popup at the end. But on the other side of that, they swung at three pitches in a row in the eighth inning down by two. So if they have any beef with that, obviously, I’m pretty sure Cora did. They chose to not try to win the game as well, they were trying to keep him from striking a guy out.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

Minor was just happy to get the last strikeout. With nine K's on the afternoon, he joins teammate Lance Lynn (236) as the second set of Rangers pitchers with 200 or more in a single season -- Nolan Ryan and Bobby Witt did it in 1990. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“It’s just an accomplishment that I was looking at,” Minor said. “Got close to the end and a lot of guys were talking about it and Lance accomplished [it] a long time ago. Last couple of games I was trying to get there but had some duds in there. Today I got closer and I knew we were a couple of strikeouts away and tried to get it.””according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

Minor was almost pulled in the seventh inning two short of 200 strikeouts. He took a 5-3 lead into the seventh, but he gave up a leadoff home run to Jackie Bradley Jr. and another long ball with one out to Owings to tie the game. Minor retired Marco Hernandez on a grounder to first and then gave up a single to Juan Centeno. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

At that point, Woodward went to the mound to check on Minor and he decided to leave him in the game. Woodward had Emmanuel Clase ready in the bullpen. When Minor walked J.D. Martinez, Woodward started out to the mound to make a change. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

But Minor motioned he wanted one more batter and Woodward obliged. Minor finished off the inning by striking out Sam Travis. At that point Minor had thrown 117 pitches and Woodward sent him back out for the eighth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“I’ve obviously let him go further in games,” Woodward said. “I didn’t want him to go 120 pitches. Once it got close, I know it’s just a number, but [200 is] a big number, to have two guys that have accomplished that, it is a big deal. I thought he deserved it.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

That’s when the Red Sox went down on just three pitches. Brock Holt grounded out to Guzmán, Gorkys Hernandez grounded out to shortstop Elvis Andrus and Jackie Bradley popped out. That miffed Woodward and he sent Minor back out for the ninth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“I said you’re going back out,” Woodward said. “If they want to do that, you’re going back out. There was no question. It was only three pitches.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

That’s when the Red Sox went down on just three pitches. Brock Holt grounded out to Guzmán, Gorkys Hernandez grounded out to shortstop Elvis Andrus and Jackie Bradley popped out. That miffed Woodward and he sent Minor back out for the ninth.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“I said you’re going back out,” Woodward said. “If they want to do that, you’re going back out. There was no question. It was only three pitches.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

Cora pointed out that Bradley and Owings both hit their home runs on the first pitch of their at-bats.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“We have goals set in mind, they didn’t happen,” Cora said. “It’s been two weeks that we’ve been eliminated but we’ve been going at it the right way. That’s all I ask. I don’t manage the Rangers. That’s a question for Woody over there and he probably has the right answer.””according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

Minor disputed the idea the Red Sox were simply playing hard.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“I knew what they were doing,” Minor said. “They were laughing about it. Brock Holt popped out and looked at our dugout and was laughing. I didn’t mind it. I was just, I have to throw a ball off the plate where they can’t touch it because they were swinging.””according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

Minor started the ninth by getting Sandy Leon to fly out. Owings took a ball and a strike, and then lifted a high pop to the right of home plate that faded a few feet into foul territory. Both Guzmán and catcher Jose Trevino had a chance to catch it.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“I looked over at Trevi, he looked at me, we looked at where the ball was going to land,” Minor said. “I knew it was going to be a two-strike count if he dropped it. So I yelled at Guzie to drop it.””according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

Guzmán obliged his pitcher and was given an error on the play.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“He deserves it more than anyone else on the team,” Guzmán said. “Honestly, on that play I was going for it. I wasn't exactly sure if it was gonna be fair or foul. And when I got close to it, I heard like the whole stadium telling me to drop it, so I just couldn't do anything else. They were making it really hard on him, swinging at the first pitch every at-bat, even though the game was close. I mean, we just had to do what we needed to do.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

Minor threw one more pitch and Owings took it for strike three. Owings wasn’t happy with that and barked at home plate umpire CB Bucknor as he walked back to the dugout. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“It was borderline, but I liked it,” Minor said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

Woodward then let closer José Leclerc get the final out.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

“I’m proud of Mike,” Woodward said. “He’s been awesome all year, to be able to go that many pitches and every inning he came back after the sixth, man, I was like, 'Are you OK, are you OK?' Actually, after the fifth, I wanted to make sure because it was hot out there. It just shows you how hard that man worked in his offseason to be able to do what he did today. It’s awesome.” according to https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news/mike-minor-rangers-200-strikeouts

First pitch is set for 8:05pm from Globe Life Park. The game will be televised on Yes and FSSW.