Masahiro Tanaka will take his perfect 6-0 record and measly 2.17 ERA to Chicago to take on Jason Hammel (4-2, 3.06 ERA) and the Cubs. Tanaka is the first pitcher since 1900 to get six victories and at least 60 strikeouts in his first eight big league starts. He is undefeated in his last 42 starts combined between the Yankees and Nippon Professional Baseball. “I felt that I had a pretty good game last time,” Tanaka said about his start against the Mets. “Basically, I’ll just try to carry that on to the next game. We’re facing a different team and we’re going to be facing different batters. I’m just going to try to focus on getting outs again. It’s not always going to be perfect, but that’s what you’re trying to aim for.” He started Game 1 of the double header against Chicago tossing eight shutout innings while fanning 10.
For the first time this season, Hammel did not record a quality start his last time out against the Cardinals. He pitched only 5 innings after giving up five runs on five hits and two walks. He faced the Yanks during the double header on April 16th and lost, giving up three runs in seven frames. He is 3-4 with a 5.04 ERA in 18 games against the Bombers in his career. Hammel, like Tanaka, has kept runners off the basepaths at an extraordinary rate so far, holding the third-best WHIP in the National League at 0.91.
Dellin Betances was a starter through most of his minor league career, but he has found success since being converted into a reliever in the big leagues. In 17 relief appearances for the Yanks this season he holds a 1.85 ERA and struck out 42 while walking just nine. He’s fanned nine of the last 13 batters faced. “I’m learning from the guys down there,” Betances said. “I’ve done it for a year now, since last year, and it feels good. It’s just different. You have to go out and be aggressive in the strike zone.”
Alfonso Soriano will be making his way back to Wrigley since being traded to the Yanks in July of last year. When Cubs’ shortstop Starlin Castro was called up to the big leagues, Sori took the rookie under his wing, and let him stay at his home in Chicago. “He’s kind of my father,” Castro said. “That’s the guy, when I came here my rookie year, he helped me a lot. We’re not together any more, but we talk a lot. He treated me like his son. He’ll be in the Hall of Fame someday.”
During the Yankees’ visit, the Cubs will celebrate Derek Jeter in a brief pregame ceremony Tuesday. Mike Olt, who grew up in Connecticut, will relish just playing the Yankees. “It brings back a lot of childhood memories,” Olt said. “I used to go there all the time, used to watch Derek Jeter as much as I could. It is a surreal experience to play them. It’s fun to be out there and know I’ve waited my whole life to play against these guys and it finally happened.”
Notes on the game
This will be the third series at Wrigley Field between the Yankees and Cubs since the 1938 World Series.
In the double header against the Yankees in April, the Cubs hit .148 (9-61) with one extra base hit striking out 17 times.
Chicago’s Hector Rondon is 5-5 in save opportunities, and holds a 1.33 ERA.
First pitch at 8:05 PM on MY9
