Against the Rangers this weekend, the Yanks are hitting and getting on base. The team is 25 for 87 (.287) with 18 walks, good for a .421 on-base percentage. But the club is slugging just .345. They’ve gone two games in Texas without a home run and have just five doubles. They’ve also left 32 runners on base in a pair of infuriating games.
Today, they’ll try to put those struggles behind them, but they have their work cut out for them. Future Yankee Cliff Lee takes the ball for the Rangers today, and he’ll face Dustin Moseley. On paper, it’s one of the biggest mismatches of the season. Yet, Cliff Lee hasn’t been Cliff Lee lately. Out with a back issue, he’s making his first start since August 31st, and in his previous five outings, he was 0-3 with an 8.28 ERA. Opponents are hitting .333/.348/.538 over his last 29.1 innings. Could Lee be the cure for what ails the Yanks?
Moseley, on the other hand, is pitching on borrowed time. With Andy Pettitte’s return fast approaching, he’s making what could be his last or second-to-last emergency start. He’s 4-2 with a 4.83 ERA/5.92 FIP in in 50.1 innings. Moseley needs to give the Yanks a handful of decent innings today too as David Robertson, Kerry Wood, Boone Logan and Mariano Rivera are unavailable.
Here’s your lineup. A-Rod gets the day off, Nick Swisher was a late scratch and Javier Vazquez is available out of the pen. In case of emergency, break glass.
Jeter SS
Granderson CF
Teixeira 1B
Thames DH
Cano 2B
Posada C
Kearns LF
Nuñez 3B
Golson RF
Moseley P
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