Game 66: A different kind of lineup

Apparently unimpressed by Brett Gardner’s a) 3-for-4 with a walk performance last night, b) his .364 OBP against left-handed pitchers this year, and c) his .361 OBP against left-handed pitchers in his career, Joe Girardi is sitting his regular left fielder tonight in favor of Andruw Jones against southpaw Derek Holland. With Derek Jeter on the disabled list and Gardner on bench, tonight’s leadoff hitter is … Nick Swisher. Swish is hitting .356/.438/.576 against lefties this year and did spend some time batting leadoff for the White Sox a few years ago, so it won’t be completely foreign. Plus it’s not like he has to change his game, he’s just got to keep doing what he’s been doing against lefties this year, that’s all. Don’t change a thing. Here’s the rest of the lineup…

Nick Swisher, RF
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Andruw Jones, LF
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Frankie Cervelli, C
Ramiro Pena, 3B

Ivan Nova, SP

The weather has been gorgeous all day and will remain that way this evening. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm ET and it can be seen on YES locally and ESPN nationally. Enjoy.

Transaction Updates (6:40 p.m.) The Yankees made a flurry of pre-game transactions this evening. The club announced they have signed Cory Wade to a Major League deal and added him to the 25-man roster. Kevin Whelan has been sent down to AAA, and to make room for Wade on the 40-man, Rafael Soriano has been moved to the 60-day DL. He will not be eligible to come off until July 12.

Wade, who will wear number 53, has thrown well for AAA this year. In 38.1 innings with the Rays’ Durham franchise and Scranton, he has gone 3-1 with a 1.17 ERA. He has struck out 35 and walked just six. The 28-year-old last pitched in the Majors in 2009. In parts of two seasons with the Dodgers, he threw 99 innings with a 3.18 ERA and struck out 69 while walking 25. If anything, he’s likely to throw more strikes than Whelan and provides the bullpen with some much-needed depth.