Game 81: Halfway Point

Today is the halfway point of the season. Game 81. What have we learned about the 2015 Yankees so far? We’ve learned they look damn near unbeatable at their best and a cellar-dweller at their worst. I suppose that’s true of every team, but these Yankees seem to take it to the extreme. If you’d have told me back in Spring Training they’d be in first place in the AL East heading into the 81st game, even by just one game, I’d have taken it. That’s where they are right now.

This afternoon the Yankees are looking to build on last night’s thrilling come from behind walk-off win. They’re 43-37 right now and will hopefully be 44-37 in a few hours. After 81 games last year they were 41-40. The year before that they were 42-39. Hooray for being better than the 2013-14 Yanks. Here is the Tampa Bay lineup and here is the New York Yankees of America lineup on this Independence Day:

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. 3B Chase Headley
3. DH Alex Rodriguez
4. 1B Mark Teixeira
5. RF Garrett Jones
6. LF Ramon Flores
7. C John Ryan Murphy
8. SS Didi Gregorius
9. 2B Stephen Drew
   RHP Michael Pineda

The weather isn’t great in New York. It’s cloudy and overcast, but there’s no rain in the forecast and the sun is supposed to make an appearance at some point. This afternoon’s game will begin at 1:05pm ET and can be seen on FOX Sports 1 only. No YES, no WPIX, nothing. Just FS1. Enjoy the game everyone.

Injury Update: Andrew Miller (forearm) threw 30 pitches in the bullpen and everything went well. He wants to make a minor league rehab appearance before rejoining the team. “I don’t want to come into a game unprepared,” he said. “I can’t come into a game and not be sharp. Can’t afford that.”