Two of the top teams in the American League, the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins, are set to collide in the Bronx this weekend.
- Minnesota Twins (19-10)
- New York Yankees (17-13)
- 5/3, 5/4, 5/5 Start times: (7:05 P.M, 1:05 P.M, 1:05 P.M) ET
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
After a nine-game trip to the west coast that saw the banged-up Yankees salvage, an impressive six wins the team returns home for a clash with the team with baseballs best-winning percentage.
The Minnesota Twins will come to the Bronx nine games above the .500 mark and fresh off taking three out of four games from a Houston Astros club that swept the Yankees back in April.
A big reason for Minnesota’s hot start has been their ability to hit the long ball. The Twins enter play Friday with the fourth most home runs (51) of any team in the majors and only trail the Seattle Mariners for the American League lead.
Though the Bombers have a long history in beating up on the Twins especially in the Bronx this series has the potential to be much different as Minnesota comes in red hot, and the Yankees are still battling the injury bug.
Here’s a look at how the two clubs will match up in the mound for this weekend’s three-game series.
Pitching Matchups
Friday (5/3)
Kyle Gibson (2-0, 4.88 ERA) vs. James Paxton (3-2, 3.28 ERA)
After a rough start to his carer in Pinstripes, it’s hard to find a hotter pitcher in all of baseball than James Paxton.
In his last three starts, Paxton has struck out a combined 36 batters allowing just three earned runs. The big maple will look to keep rolling as he takes on a current Twins team that has a combined .225 batting average against him.
As for Minnesota, they’ll send right-hander Kyle Gibson to the mound. Gibson pitched well against the Yankees in the Bronx back on April 26th of 2018 when he allowed just one hit while striking out 10 in six innings of work.
Gibson has yet to take a loss this season but hasn’t had the best results as his ERA is near five.
Saturday (5/4)
Jake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.34 ERA) vs. J.A. Happ (1-2, 4.68 ERA)
In game two the Yankees will send lefty J.A. Happ to the mound. Like Paxton, Happ got off to a rough start this season but has pitched much better of late.
Last Saturday in San Fransico Happ was brilliant as he tossed seven scoreless innings earning his first win of the season.
The Twins will counter with former Tampa Bay Ray Jake Odorizzi. Odorizzi is off to a solid start in 2019 as he’s fresh off a start that saw him throw seven shutout innings against Justin Verlander and the Astros.
With Odorizzi on the mound, look for Yankees skipper Aaron Boone to play Cameron Maybin as the outfielder is a .566 hitter in nine at-bats against the right-hander.
Sunday (5/5)
Michael Pineda (2-2, 6.21 ERA) vs. Domingo German (5-1, 2.53 ERA)
The series finale will see a familiar face make his return to the Bronx as Micheal Pineda will make his sixth carer start in a Twins uniform.
After undergoing Tommy John in 2017, the Yankees let Pineda leave for Minnesota in free-agency after three-seasons in Pinstripes. So far the right-hander has had a rough go of things in 2019 as his ERA is well over six.
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As for the Yankees, they’ll send out Domingo German and his team-leading five wins to the mound. German has been phenomenal thus far this season as he’s even put his name into early Cy Young conversation.
Predictions
This weekend will be among the Yankees biggest tests so far in this young season. The Twins are as hot as anyone in baseball and have the leagues best record. New York should have slugger Miguel Andujar back in the lineup however and will send two of their three hottest pitchers to the bump.
Thus, expect a highly competitive series but with all the injuries I see the hot Twins having success and taking two out of three games in the Bronx.