The Yankees head back to New York for a six-game homestand, looking to get back on track after losing two of three to the Texas Rangers.
- New York Yankees (31-15)
- Los Angeles Angels (28-22)
- 5/25-5/27, Start Times: (7:05 PM, 7:15 PM, 1:05 PM) ET
- Yankee Stadium, New York
The Yankees will welcome the Angels into town on Friday night to start a three-game series in the Bronx. New York is coming off a series loss to the Rangers after two straight days of bad pitching.
The Yankees got off to a good start in Texas, winning the first game in easy fashion, 10-5. That was the only win they would get in the Lone Star State.
Domingo German gave up six earned runs, including five in the first two innings and the Yankees were never able to fight back in game two.
Game three was one to forget for the Yankees. There was no shortage of bats as the Yankees scored 10 runs in the game but the pitching could not keep up. CC Sabathia gave up seven earned runs and the bullpen was not much better as they gave up five more.
These games will happen throughout the course of a 162 game season. Leave it in Texas and win the next series.
Pitching Matchups
Friday (5/25)
Luis Severino (7-1, 2.35 ERA) vs. Andrew Heaney (2-3, 3.35 ERA)
The Yankees will have Luis Severino on the mound to open the series and he has been nothing short of an Ace this season.
Severino has posted an ERA+ of 186 while striking out 10.5 batters per nine innings. After two bad pitching performances by the Yankees pitchers, Severino will look to turn things around for the staff in game one.
Opposing Severino will be the lefty, Andrew Heaney. Heaney is coming off a start against the Rays in which he went six innings, giving up four runs, zero earned.
He has one start against the Yankees this year which saw him give up just one earned run in five innings pitched.
Saturday (5/26)
Sonny Gray (3-3, 5.48) vs. TBD
After a horrid start to the season, Gray has hopefully (cross your fingers) figured things out. In his last start against the Royals, Gray went eight strong innings, giving up just one run.
It was by far Gray’s best start of the season. He was attacking batters and it was finally a good time watching him pitch.
The Angels have not yet announced their Saturday starter but if I had to guess I might say Jaime Barria. He is currently in the minors but he has made the most starts for the Angels other than their solidified rotation pieces.
He has posted a 2.13 ERA in five starts in 2018.
Sunday (5/27)
Masahiro Tanaka (5-2, 4.95 ERA) vs. Garrett Richards (4-3, 3.31 ERA)
It has been another disappointing start to the season for Tanaka as he has posted a 4.95 ERA in 10 games started. His last four starts have seen him give up at least three runs in all of them including two four-run outings.
It seems every start we say that maybe this will turn it around for him. He’ll try again to make that true on Sunday.
Richards has had a good start to 2018 after only pitching in six games in 2017. He has posted a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts, good for a 125 ERA+.
He didn’t pitch well in his one start against the Yankees though, giving up five earned runs in just an inning and a third.
Tough Stretch in the Bronx
This short six-game homestand will see the Yankees welcome the Angels and the Astros to the Bronx. These are two of the better teams in the league and the Yankees will have to face them in a row after just dropping a series to the Rangers.
This is the second time this season that the Yankees will have to face those two teams back to back. The first time went very well for the Bombers as they swept the Angels and took three of four from the Astros.
The Yankees would gladly expect the same outcome this time but will be tough to repeat that against such good teams.
Predictions
I have a weird feeling that maybe the Yankees will be in a bit of a rut. I say they lose two of three to the Angels in this serious. They’ve been so hot, I think they have a little bump but get back on track against Houston. Let’s all hope they prove me wrong.