Instead of putting out the A lineup and going for a series win this afternoon, Joe Girardi has deemed it more important to get his regulars some rest. Absent from today’s lineup are Nick Swisher, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Jorge Posada. Most curious is Posada, who has destroyed Kazmir in 28 career plate appearances: .440/.464/.680.
The lineup, however, isn’t what concerns the Yanks. They have other matters on their minds, and A.J. Burnett stands out among the rest. The man who will likely take the ball in Game 2 of the ALDS has been a bit inconsistent of late, and needs these last couple of starts to tune up and prepare for the playoff spotlight. He was good last time out, striking out six over seven innings against the Mariners, allowing just one run. This is a much bigger test. The Angels offense is quite a bit better than the Mariners.
In fact, you might call this one a…playoff preview.
Since his debut in 2004, Scott Kazmir has pitched 81.2 innings against the Yankees, and almost none of them have been easy. He has allowed just 30 runs in that span, 23 earned, striking out 92 to 36 walks. The Yanks were glad to get him out of the division, but he can be a pest even with the Angels. We’ll see if success against the Yankees carries over to his new home.
Kazmir struggled through the first half of 2009 and let it spill over into the second half. Even so, he pitched 13.2 innings against the Yankees and allowed only four runs. Even when he’s going poorly, he’s still a Yankee killer. He’s turned things around since becoming an Angel, allowing just five runs, four earned, over 25.1 innings spanning four starts. He could have an easy time today with the Yanks’ “we just clinched a playoff spot” lineup.
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Jerry Hairston, 3B
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Hideki Matsui, DH
5. Shelley Duncan, RF
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Melky Cabrera, LF
8. Brett Gardner, CF
9. Jose Molina, C
And on the mound, number thirty-four, A.J. Burnett.