The race in the AL East is bunching-up even tighter. All of the teams except the Red Sox (serves them right) are within 1 game of each other. The Yankees currently sit tied for 2nd with Baltimore, and a half-game behind Tampa for the division lead.
Scott and I are both back from traveling this week. Earlier in the week the Yankees dropped 2 of 3 from Philly, statistically the worst team in baseball. Big Mike got roughed up in the first game of that series, and it seems like a trend of good game then bad game is developing with him. As the Yankees’ ace (or one of them), Pineda cannot give up 8 runs in 3 innings, especially to the Phillies.
Sabathia also did not pitch well vs Philly, giving up 6 runs through 4 innings. Again CC was bitten by the middle-innings. Maikel Franco had another 5 RBIs (he had 5 in the first game of the series as well). It looks like the Phillies found their third baseman of the future in Franco. Also in that game Betances had the first loss of his CAREER. Can’t really be mad at a guy for one bad game.
Wednesday was also eventful. Ivan Nova made his first start back from TJS and was DOMINANT. Nobody could have expected he would have been that good in his first game back. He went 6.2 innings and only gave up 3 hits and 0 runs. He is a total wild card for this rotation and the Yankees could have a great second half if he’s healthy and pitching well.
The team then headed to Houston for 4 games, in which they split. Houston is having a great year and they have a lot of young talent. I think they could be there at the end in the AL West, so splitting on the road with them is not bad.
In the two losses of the series, the Yankees offense could not get anything going vs Keuchel and McHugh. In the two wins, clutch hitting came through. Chris Young had a HUGE 3 run bomb to win the game on Friday, and Teixeira had a big go-ahead double in the 8th on Saturday night to win the game. So far on the road trip the offense has been jekyll and hyde, but hopefully the bats can stay consistent in Los Angeles.
After 3 in LA, the Yankees come home for a big 3 game series vs Tampa. Divisional games are going to be the deciding factor in the AL East down the stretch, so the Yankees must win that series.
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