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Preview: Jeter’s Last Home Game (9/25/14)

Hiroki Kuroda (11-9, 3.77 ERA) will make his final start of the year, and most likely his career, in Derek Jeter‘s last home game against Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.57 ERA). Kuroda is coming off a strong performance against the Blue Jays throwing 6 2/3 innings to get to 11 wins for the fifth straight year. He allowed three runs on seven hits without issuing a walk and K-ing seven.

Gausman went five innings allowing two runs against Boston his last start. He struck out three and walked no one in a no decision. He is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this season.

Of his 2,744 games played, Derek Jeter has only been in one where the Yankees were mathematically eliminated from the postseason. That number will now rise after Wednesday’s loss. “For him to do it one more time in Yankee Stadium, I think, is going to be special,” Joe Girardi said. “I’ve talked about how special it is to put a uniform on, how special it is to put on a Yankees uniform. It’s very difficult to take it off. I think tomorrow will be kind of a culmination of all the love he’s been shown and all the appreciation he’s been shown during the course of this year, and in his career and I think it’ll be something we’ll remember for a long time.”

This will not only be Jeter’s final game in the Bronx but most likely Ichiro Suzuki and Kuroda’s as well. Kuroda is a free agent after this season and was all but retired last year before signing the one year deal. He hasn’t revealed his plans for the future yet but said he wants to go back to Japan. Ichiro is also a free agent and the Yankees have an abundance of outfielders. Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Carlos Beltran are all under contract next year. Chris Young looked impressive in his short time with the team and could be a cheap option if they resign him. They also claimed Eury Perez off waivers from the Nationals a few days ago who had impressive minor league numbers. With the crowded outfield it’s hard to see there being room for a soon to be 41 year old outfielder. There’s no question that Ichi can still play in the field so he will most likely go to another team. He hasn’t mentioned retirement at all and after his 4,000th career hit and the asinine debate that took place about his Japan numbers not counting, he stated he wants to get to 3,000 MLB hits so nobody can question it. He is 159 away, doable in a year maybe two if he is a full time player.

As is the norm with the Yankees nowadays, Jacoby Ellsbury, Glass Bones Teixeira and Carlos Beltran are all most likely done for the year. Neither of them have made much progress from their respective injuries and Girardi doesn’t see them coming back this year.

 

Notes on the game

Baltimore is 13-5 against New York this season, finishing with a winning record against them for the first time since 1997.

With one more win, the Yanks will have their 22nd consecutive winning season. It is the second longest streak behind none other than the Yankees from 1926-1964 (39 seasons.)

Kuroda is 38-33 with a 3.46 ERA in his time with the Yanks.

 

7:05 pm on Yes.