After a week in Chicago, Chase Whitley (0-0, 1.00 ERA) and the Yanks travel to St Louis to take on Michael Wacha (3-3, 2.54 ERA) and the Cardinals. Whitley was pulled after 71 pitches in his second big league start against the Cubs, holding them to one run and six hits over 4 1/3 innings. The Yanks would like to get more distance out of him this start, setting the pitch count at 80-85.
In Wacha’s last start he allowed two hits in six scoreless innings and got hit in the elbow by a foul ball while sitting . There were no lasting ill effects, clearing him to make his first start against the Yankees. “Everything feels good, I have all the range of motion and everything that I was looking for,” Wacha said. “The arm feels great.”
Derek Jeter will be honored prior to Monday’s series opener with several Cardinals front office members, Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith and Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst joining him on the field to give him a gift from the Cardinals. “It’s unexpected,” Jeter said last week when the Cubs honored him. “I never expected anyone to do anything, so it’s much appreciated. For the most part, the fans have always treated me good. This year, it feels good when you’re appreciated.”
Between the two teams there are 38 World Series wins and enough Hall of Famers to start a second Cooperstown. Even with all that history, this series will be just the third meeting between the two in the regular season. “Because of the championships between both teams, and the success that they’ve had, it’s special,” Joe Girardi said. “I really believe so.” St. Louis and New York have met in the World Series five times, with the Cardinals coming away with three of them.
Notes on the game
The Yanks and Cards haven’t played an Interleague series since 2005, when the Cardinals won two of three at Busch Stadium II.
St. Louis is one of just three teams that have won more World Series against the Yankees than they’ve lost (Arizona and Miami are each 1-0).
Jeter has played against the Cardinals six times, going 8-26 (.308) with three doubles.
First pitch at 4:15 PM on Yes & ESPN
