The Yankees kick off an eight game road trip in LA for two against the Dodgers. Andy Pettitte is on the mound (7-8, 4.39 ERA) to get things started against Zack Greinke (8-3, 3.49 ERA). After allowing three or more earned runs in seven consecutive starts, Pettitte delivered a strong outing on Wednesday against Texas, allowing just two earned runs over six innings. However, he still allowed eight hits and took his second straight loss. “I feel good. I can’t take anything from it,” Pettitte said after that outing. “When you lose, you can’t take nothing from it. It’s a loss, we need wins and it’s frustrating.”
In his last time out, Greinke gave up two homers and allowed four runs on six hits in seven innings in a loss against the Reds. The right hander is 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA in eight starts at Dodger Stadium this year.
Derek Jeter‘s impact on the Yankees is obvious. Look no further than his welcome back moment on Sunday, a home run on the first pitch he saw in his return from the DL. But Joe Girardi said Jeter’s experience could prove to be just as important as New York attempts to make a playoff push. This year’s Yankees squad lacks Jeter’s experience in those kind of high pressure games and they’ll be tested Tuesday against a playoff caliber opponent.
“Derek’s been a winner his whole career,” Girardi said. “He understands what it’s like to play in these type of games down the stretch. So productive over his career in the top of the order guy that scores a lot of runs and drives in runs and just does things the right way. And that’s why I think he’s so important to us.”
Notes on the game.
Jayson Nix will rejoin the Yankees after spending 3 1/2 weeks on the DL with a strained right hamstring.
Curtis Granderson played his fourth rehab game in Tampa and is expected to stop in Trenton on Tuesday before possibly rejoining the team in San Diego.
Over his last 19 games, Robinson Cano is batting .318 (21-66) with three doubles, a homer, 13 RBIs, four runs and 12 walks.
Game kicks off at 10:10 PM (EST) on Yes.
