Chase Whitley (3-1, 4.07 ERA) gets the rubber match against John Lackey (8-5, 3.45 ERA) and the Sox. Whitley struggled his last time out against the Blue Jays. In his shortest outing of the year, he went 3 1/3 innings allowing 11 hits and eight earned runs in the loss. “You’re not going to have it every night,” Whitley said. “The biggest thing is just stay on it, keep the same mindset of what I’ve been doing the whole time.”
Lackey, like Whitley, was hit hard early in his last start. He gave up seven hits and seven runs over 3 2/3 innings against the Mariners. In four career starts at Yankee Stadium, he is 1-2 with an 8.10 ERA
Mookie is coming to Boston. Calm down Bill, not that Mookie. The Red Sox number 5 prospect Mookie Betts makes the jump to the Majors in hopes of providing a spark to a stagnant Red Sox offense. John Farrell brought up the 21 year old Saturday to give him a chance to go through an entire pregame routine before making his big league debut. He will make said anticipated debut in one of sports most intense rivalries. “I think I’m as ready as I’m going to get,” said Betts. “Only time will tell, getting out there and playing and learning more will tell if I was ready or not. But the front office felt I was ready, I have to feel like I’m ready as well.”
Betts was Boston’s Minor League Offensive Player of the Year in 2013 and has had a great start to 2014. In 77 games this year between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket, he hit .345 with eight home runs, 70 runs scored, 48 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. “He isn’t looked upon as the savior for the Red Sox,” Farrell said. “He’s looked upon as a talented and exciting young player, and we’re looking forward to him taking the field for us and confident that he’ll be able to contribute.”
Let’s hope this Mookie is kinder to the Red Sox than the last one was.
Notes on the game
The Yankees are 6-3 against Boston this season, matching last year’s win total (6-13).
The Red Sox are 3-6 during their current 10 game road trip.
First pitch at 8:05 PM on ESPN
