Hiroki Kuroda (2-1, 4.07 ERA) brings the Yankees back home to take on C.J. Wilson (2-2, 4.21 ERA) and the Angels. Kuroda is 9-2 with a 2.45 ERA in his last 15 home starts, holding opponents to a .218 batting average. In six career games against the Halos, he is 3-2 with a 2.16 ERA. Three of those starts are as a Yankee and in those three he is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA.
Wilson’s last start against the Tigers was a struggle. He gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and walked three while lasting just five innings. In his last five outings against the Yankees, he has posted a 2.08 ERA, giving up just eight earned runs over a span of 34 2/3 innings. He has a 2.58 ERA in 38 1/3 career innings at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees are coming home after an eventful trip to Boston, losing Michael Pineda to a 10 game suspension after having pine tar on his neck. The Bombers are ready to move on from the incident and keep playing winning ball. Â “We’ve got three against the Angels who are playing well, so it’s important that we move on, because the game of baseball does not stop,” Joe Girardi said. “It’s an everyday sport, not a weekly sport.”
Albert Pujols is coming into Yankee Stadium red hot. He homered twice on Tuesday, becoming the first player ever to hit career homers 499 and 500 in the same game, then went 2-4 with a double and a walk in Wednesday’s loss. In six career games in Yankee Stadium he has .857 OPS. He leads the Majors with eight home runs and a .284/.351/.625 line. “I’m healthy and I’m feeling good at the plate right now,” Pujols said. “I don’t need to tell you guys. You guys can see it. When you have your legs under you, now you can rely on the power you have, and it wasn’t there the last couple years.”
Notes on the game
The Yankees have taken 4 of the last 5 from the Angels.
The Yankees are 13-1 when leading after six innings.
Since 2000, the Angels’ 65-59 regular season record against the Yankees is the Bombers’ only losing record against an American League opponent.
Mike Trout has hit safely in 13 straight games in the Bronx. In 15 career games at the stadium he has a .383 batting average with two homers and 13 RBIs.
First pitch at 7:05 PM on Yes
