CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander last squared off on April 27, and what we witnessed that day was a clinic in pitching. Sabathia threw a complete game, allowing just six hits and no walks while striking out seven. Verlander was nearly untouchable. He lasted seven innings, gave up seven hits and struck out nine. He also walked no one.
The final score of that game was 4-2. Magglio Ordoñez’s two-run home run — just his second of the season — bounced off the top of the right field wall and landed on the wrong side. The Yanks would plate two in the 9th but couldn’t mount the comeback.
Today, these two aces meet again. Sabathia is coming off of a bad start against the Angels. On Sunday, he gave up five runs on nine hits and three walks as the Yanks lost 5-4. Verlander, who leads the AL in strike outs, is coming off a seven-inning shut out start against the Indians. He is 10-2 with a 2.22 ERA over his last 15 starts. Runs should be scarce.
For CC, the second half has always been kind to him. He has a career 3.39 ERA and strikes out nearly a batter an inning more in the second half than in the first. That should be good news for those wary of his declining K numbers this year.
The game starts at 1:04 p.m., and it is a bee-yoo-tee-ful day for baseball in New York.
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
Sabathia P