Hiroki Kuroda (2-3, 5.14 ERA) and C.J. Wilson (4-2, 3.18 ERA) go head to head for the second time this season in game two in Anaheim. Kuroda’s last time out against the Angels was his shortest outing of the season. He was knocked out of the game in the fifth inning after allowing 10 hits and eight runs (six earned.) His last two starts were loses. “I think my split was inconsistent,” Kuroda said through an interpreter. “There were some good pitches, but the ones that got hit were bad pitches. I think right now, because the results are not there, there’s a part of me that may be thinking too much.”
Wilson’s last two starts were quality ones. He pitched six innings of one run ball against the Yankees and then eight innings of one run ball against the Indians. He struck out 13 and walked four in those starts. “Mechanically, I got into a little bit more of a groove as the game went on,” Wilson said. “The first couple of batters I felt good, but the ball was just kind of sailing on me a little bit. And then as I got more into the flow of the game, I was able to keep the ball in the strike zone more often.”
Brendan Ryan will be activated from the 15 day DL before the game, returning to a 25 man roster due Michael Pineda‘s 10 game suspension ending and him being placed on the DL. Ryan, who was sidelined this spring with a cervical spine nerve injury, has played in seven Minor League rehab games with Class A Advanced Tampa and Double-A Trenton, going 8-25 (.320) with four runs, two RBIs and five walks. Joe Girardi said that he plans to use Ryan mostly as a backup for Jeter at shortstop, but could also play Ryan at second or third base.
Notes on the game
Since 2005 The Angels are 27-13 against the Yankees at Angel Stadium. Since 2000, the Angels’ 66-61 regular season record against the Yankees is the best in the Majors.
The Yankees have lost five of their last six games and are 1-13 when tied or trailing after six innings.
Mark Teixeira has reached base safely in nine of his last 10 games going 10-37 with five homers, nine walks and two hit by pitches.
First pitch at 10:05 PM on Yes
