The Yankees will be rolling into Texas for a three-game series firing on all cylinders and looking to win their ninth consecutive series.
- New York Yankees (30-13)
- Texas Rangers (18-30)
- 5/21-5/23, Start times: (8:05 PM, 8:05 PM, 7:05 PM) ET
- Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas
The New York Yankees will begin a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Monday night following a series victory against the Kansas City Royals after a number of days off.
New York looked a bit rusty in their first game against the Royals, which resulted in a loss, but they came around in the next two games defeating Kansas City in impressive fashion.
Overall, the team looked great in their previous series while getting a surplus of offensive support as well as some key pitching performances, particularly from Sonny Gray.
Gray was dominant over eight innings on Sunday afternoon while only allowing one earned run on four hits. If he is able to keep up this type of performance, the Yankees rotation picture will certainly look better.
Now, the Yankees will look to carry their hot bats and solid pitching into Texas and show the last place team in the American League West what they are made of.
Pitching Matchups
Monday (5/21)
Masahiro Tanaka (4-2, 4.73 ERA) vs. Bartolo Colon (2-1, 2.82 ERA)
To begin the series on Monday night, Masahiro Tanaka will take the mound and go up against the ageless wonder Bartolo Colon.
In his previous start, Tanaka received a no decision in a rain-out against the Nationals where he went five innings where allowing three earned runs. Over three starts in May, Tanaka has a 5.51 ERA, so he will be looking for his first solid start of the month on Monday.
Colon has performed the opposite of Tanaka in his previous starts, he has been solid for Texas. The right-hander went 7.2 scoreless innings in his previous start against the Mariners.
However, Colon has struggled mightily in his career against the Yankees. In 21 career appearances against New York, Colon is 6-9 with a 6.11 ERA.
Tuesday (5/22)
Domingo German (0-1, 4.26 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (2-4, 3.48 ERA)
German was impressive in his first few appearances for the Yankees, but had a rough outing in his last start against Oakland when he surrendered six runs on six hits.
It will be intruiging to see how the right-hander is able to rebound from the first rough start of his very young big league career.
He will be going up against veteran left-hander Cole Hamels, who could possibly be dealt to New York later on in the season.
Hamels was scratched from his previous start due to neck stifness, but in his last start against the Astros he only surrendered one hit over six innings.
Wednesday (5/23)
CC Sabathia (2-1, 2.40 ERA) vs. Doug Fister (1-4, 3.43 ERA)
CC Sabathia will take the mound for New York on Wednesday night, looking to rebound from a loss in Kansas City on Friday night.
Prior to his loss on Friday, Sabathia went 15 straight regular season starts without recording a loss and walked his most amount of batters since August 31, 2017.
Taking the mound for Texas will be Doug Fister, who is coming off his best start of the season against the White Sox where he went seven scoreless innings. However, Fister has not recorded a win since March 30.
Hamels Showcase?
There is no denying that the Yankees are in the market for starting pitching and have been since the offseason. One man who could be one of their targets is Tuesday’s opposing starter, Cole Hamels.
The left-hander is having a solid season with a 3.48 ERA and could be on the move from an uncompetitive Rangers team come the trade deadline.
Hamels is owed the remainder of his $22.5 million of his salary in 2018 with another year in 2019 for $20 million, but the team could buy him out for $6 million.
It is very possible the Yankees will be scouting Hamels heavily in person on Tuesday to see if they might want to acquire him to join the rotation.
Predictions
The Yankees will take the series opener and series finale while winning their ninth consecutive series. Expect the offense to stay hot and finish off this road trip with yet another series victory.