CC Sabathia (9-7, 3.99 ERA) looks to end the first half of the year on a good note with a win over Kyle Gibson (1-2, 7.27 ERA) and the Twins. Sabathia pitched a complete game, but he lacked run support his last time out, allowing three runs on seven hits in a loss to the Royals. He beat the Twins on July 3 with seven innings of two run ball at Target Field.
Gibson is coming off a loss to the Rays on Tuesday, a mostly effective outing with one bad frame. He threw six innings, five scoreless, and felt like he had good stuff. But three walks and two big hits in a four run fourth washed away the good.
Joe Girardi won’t take credit for New York’s ability to stay above .500 at this point in the season, especially given all they have gone through. “I’m going to give the credit to my coaches and what the players have done,” Girardi said. “Those are the guys that have to get it done. The players have to go out and perform. As coaches, we try to prepare them and put them in situations where they can perform. The bottom line is, you don’t make the pitches, you don’t get the hits, you don’t win games.”
It’s no secret the Yankees have suffered their fair share of injuries this season, particularly to veteran players, but instead of worrying about when his lineup will return to normal, Girardi is focusing on the guys he has. “I think it’s the same attitude that we’ve had all year long. Obviously, you expect guys to come back, but you don’t put a date on it. You just go out and play every day. For me, I worry about things when they come across my desk, and not before. These are the guys that have played well for us, and you just go out every day and concentrate on that day.”
Notes on the game.
The Yankees are 30-1 this season when scoring five or more runs.
Since 2002, the Twins are 8-31 at Yankee Stadium (old & new.)
Game kicks off at 1:05 PM (EST) on Yes
