Chase Whitley (4-3, 5.10 ERA) and Nick Martinez (1-6. 5.10 ERA) go for game two in the Bronx. In three July starts, Whitley hasn’t made it past the fourth inning in three of them. He struggled against the Orioles in his last outing, throwing 68 pitches over just 3 2/3 innings giving up three runs. “It’s an opportunity to prove yourself,” Joe Girardi said. “I think you just have the attitude that no matter what happens, we’re going to press on and we’re out there to win games and that’s what we’re going to do. We’re not going to make excuses, because I would say no one’s going to feel sorry for you.”
Martinez hasn’t pitched since July 1st when he allowed six earned runs against O’s. He has been on the 15 day DL since and is being activated for the game. “I have to be more efficient to go deeper in the games,” Martinez said. “I still have to attack hitters, locate my fastball and keep hitters off balance.” He’s excited not only to come off the DL, but for his Yankee Stadium debut as well. “I have my family here, all of my college buddies, a few coaches,” Martinez said. “It’s going to be special.”
Mark “Glass Bones” Teixeira is expected to miss three or four days due to a mild strain of his lower left lat. The team is hoping he wont have to make his 10,000th trip to the DL. “You really don’t know exactly how it’s going to respond,” Teixeira said. “So that’s why we say we’ll re-evaluate in three to four days, and hopefully the back responds really well to the PRP. If that happens, then hopefully I’ll be back soon. If not, it might take a few more days after that.”
Notes on the game
This outing for Whitley will mark the 47th time this season the Yankees have used a rookie starting pitcher. The closest team is Seattle with 23.
Whitley will be the ninth rookie the Rangers have faced this year. The other eight went 5-1 with a 3.88 ERA in nine starts.
The Rangers are 2-7 when facing rookie pitchers.
First pitch at 7:05 pm on MY9
