David Phelps (5-4, 3.77 ERA) vs Yu Darvish (9-6, 2.92 ERA) take two, this time in Texas. Phelps pitched just five innings his last time out due to rain causing the game to be called. He allowed one run on five hits and is now unbeaten in his last eight starts.
Darvish is still in the hunt for his 10th win after his last start was shut down due to rain. In the span that Phelps has been un-Phelps like, Darvish has been un-Darvish like. He’s posted a 4.61 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in his last seven outings, five of which the Rangers have lost.
This game marks the start of a six game road trip for the Bombers who will be facing off against last place teams, first in Texas then Boston. “People talk about when you’re playing teams that are struggling, ‘Is this a chance for you to move up?'” Joe Girardi said. “Yeah, but you don’t know how well they’ll be playing when you get there. You could say that we were struggling a little bit, and all of a sudden, we’ve played extremely well at home. You want to try to take advantage of certain situations, but it really comes down to you have to outplay the other team. If you don’t play well, no matter who you’re playing, you’re not going to win.”
Mark Teixeira fielded ground balls and took swings in an indoor batting cage on Sunday. “We’ll reevaluate where he is Monday and how he feels after Sunday,” Girardi said. “Hopefully, he’s a player for us pretty soon here.”
Notes on the game
The Yankees own the season series at 3-1.
In Phelps’ eight starts over the last month and a half, he has a 2.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP while limiting opponents to a .228/.294/.367 slash line.
First pitch at 8:05 pm on Yes.
