Yu Darvish (7-3, 2.84 ERA) pitches for the first time in the Bronx with the Rangers in town to take on Hiroki Kuroda (7-5, 2.78 ERA) and the Bombers. Kuroda pitched well in his last start against his former team, giving up just two runs on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings. Over his last two starts, he has given up just four runs.
After Darvish went 8-1 in his first nine outings, the Rangers have lost five of his last six starts. The right hander is 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA in six starts on the road.
Zoilo Almonte has been a young bright spot in a struggling (aging) Yankees offense. In five games in the Majors, the rookie has two walks, four RBIs, 2 runs and a homer, and he’s pushed a struggling Vernon Wells out of the lineup with his production. “I think his plate discipline has been really good,” Joe Girardi said. “The way he’s gotten himself into good counts, he has not chased pitches.”
While Almonte is surging, another rookie is struggling. David Adams is 4-35 in 11 games in June, with four RBIs and 11 strikeouts. He drew his first career walk on Saturday, but with Youkilis out, Girardi is sticking with him as the everyday third baseman. “Sometimes as a young player, you can get a little overanxious,” Girardi said. “Maybe he’s trying to do a little too much.”
“I think their lineup has changed completely,” Darvish said. “I know Jeter is not playing and I don’t know who else is in the lineup. I will study them, and then we’ll have a meeting and I’ll come up with a game plan.”
One player Darvish is quite familiar with is Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda. The two are Japanese countrymen. “I think he’s a great pitcher,” Darvish said.
Notes on the game.
In three career starts against the Rangers, Kuroda is 1-2 with a 2.57 ERA. He threw a shutout in his last start against the Rangers, on Aug. 14, 2012, allowing just two hits.
The Yankees are 15-5 over their last 20 home games against the Rangers and have outscored them 138-81 in those games.
Game kicks off at 7:05 PM (EST) on My9
