Following this afternoon’s affair with the A’s, the Yankees will hit the road. In the midst of 17 straight games, they’ll fly to Tampa to play the third-place Rays, journey to Chicago for a set against the White Sox and stop in Toronto for a two-gamer before facing the Red Sox in a key showdown. This stretch of the schedule will be key to the Yankees’ 2009 season.
So as the Yanks gear up to leave town, Alex Rodriguez will get a day off. The Yanks’ third baseman, still building up strength in his legs, has had a great July but hasn’t enjoyed a day off since the All Star Break. He’ll be on the bench, a weapon with his bat ready to come in late in the game. That means we’re stuck, for another game, with Cody Ransom at third. With a groundball pitcher on the mound, things could get dicey.
For the Yanks, Sergio Mitre makes his second start. He wasn’t terrible last week. In 5.2 innings, he gave up four runs — three earned — one eight hits and a walk. He also struck out four and mostly kept the ball down. We’ll have to see if he can do it again and solidify that fifth position in the Yanks’ rotation.
The A’s counter with Dallas Braden. The 25-year-old lefty is 7-8 but with a 3.40 ERA. He has never started against the Yanks but made three relief appearances against the team. Braden features a fastball and slider with a good change-up. He came up through the system with a screwball too but has largely discarded it when it game him shoulder problems a few years ago.
2 Jeter SS
18 Damon LF
25 Teixeira 1B
20 Posada C
55 Matsui DH
33 Swisher RF
24 Cano 2B
53 Cabrera CF
12 Ransom 3B
45 Mitre P