The series is tied at a game apiece as Ivan Nova (2-1, 5.94 ERA) is on the mound against Chris Archer (1-1, 4.50 ERA). Nova found his curveball his last time out against the Sox, limiting them to two runs and eight hits over 7 1/3 innings. He’s 6-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 13 games against the Rays, but is just 2-1 with a 4.56 ERA in five games in Tampa Bay.
Archer allowed a career high seven runs on 12 hits Monday in Baltimore to take his first loss of the season. He continues to look productive, but he had command issues against the O’s. He went 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in three starts against the Yanks last season. “Twelve hits tells me I wasn’t locating,” Archer said. “Up, down, in, out, pitch execution period. Everything’s a learning experience.”
The Yankees announced after Friday’s 11-5 loss that they designated left hander Cesar Cabral for assignment, signing right hander Matt Daley to a Major League contract and adding him to the roster for Saturday’s game. Daley, 31, is from Garden City, NY, and was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in four appearances at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season. He had a 0.88 ERA in seven appearances for the Yankees last September and has also seen big league time with the Rockies.
Notes on the game
Archer averaged 95 mph on his fastball last season, according to FanGraphs, making him the hardest throwing starter in the AL (minimum 100 innings.)
The Yankees allowed 11 runs on Friday after allowing only 12 runs in their previous six games. It marked their first blown lead of four runs or more since a loss to the Red Sox on September 6, 2013.
Sean Rodriguez homered off Adam Warren in the eighth inning on Friday. The last time he had a homer off a right handed pitcher was July 3, 2012, when he went deep off Nova.
First pitch at 7:10 PM on Yes
