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Game 28: Sweep by the Bay?

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(Presswire)

The West Coast trip is going about as well as anyone could’ve reasonably hoped. The Yankees have won five of the first six games, and their makeshift lineup keeps finding ways to scratch out runs. Seems like it’s a new hero every day, doesn’t it?

“That’s one that kind of sucks the air out of the building,” Aaron Boone said to George King when asked about Gary Sanchez’s grand slam in yesterday’s win. “I had to walk down the steps and let out a yell. That fires you up when you see when of our dudes really step on one. I enjoyed that one.”

Domingo German has been his team’s most consistent starter this season, which sounds weird, but is definitely true. Little Sunday has been excellent. Now he can pitch the Yankees to a three-game series sweep on Sunday. Fitting. Here are today’s lineups:

New York Yankees
1. 2B DJ LeMahieu
2. 1B Luke Voit
3. CF Brett Gardner
4. C Gary Sanchez
5. SS Gleyber Torres
6. LF Mike Tauchman
7. 3B Gio Urshela
8. LF Tyler Wade
9. RHP Domingo German

San Francisco Giants
1. 2B Joe Panik
2. LF Yangervis Solarte
3. 1B Brandon Belt
4. 3B Pablo Sandoval
5. SS Brandon Crawford
6. CF Kevin Pillar
7. RF Gerardo Parra
8. C Erik Kratz
9. RHP Dereck Rodriguez

It is a nice and sunny day in San Francisco. Great afternoon for a sweep. Today’s series finale will begin at 4:05pm ET and the YES Network will have the broadcast. Enjoy the game.

Injury Updates: Didi Gregorius (Tommy John surgery) has graduated to taking full batting practice. He continues to progress with his throwing program as well. The Yankees still aren’t giving a firm timetable for his return — at this point he is definitely still several weeks away — but things are going well with his rehab … Clint Frazier (ankle) hit in the cage and ran on a treadmill today for the first time since being placed on the injured list. He’s not eligible to be activated until Friday, but it’s good he’s already resumed normal baseball activities.

Game 27: Looking for another win by the Bay

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(Presswire)

The Yankees have won nine times in their last eleven games and, incredibly, they remain a top ten offensive team despite all the injuries. They are ninth in runs per game (5.31), ninth in AVG (.258), eighth in OBP (.340), eighth in SLG (.458), and tenth in wRC+ (108). The replacements have been great.

“It’s fun, man. No one thinks we should be winning these games,” Luke Voit told Coley Harvey after last night’s win. “And everyone in our clubhouse, before the game, after the game, it’s just like everyone’s cheering for each other and happy. And you know what, the confidence is through the roof, too.”

Of course, the pitching has been pretty good too. The Yankees as a team have a 3.86 ERA, ninth best in baseball, and their starters are seventh in baseball with a 3.57 ERA. Hopefully a weak Giants lineup and a homer unfriendly park allows J.A. Happ to dominate today. Here are today’s lineups:

New York Yankees
1. 2B DJ LeMahieu
2. 1B Luke Voit
3. C Gary Sanchez
4. SS Gleyber Torres
5. 3B Gio Urshela
6. CF Brett Gardner
7. RF Cameron Maybin
8. LF Thairo Estrada
9. LHP J.A. Happ

San Francisco Giants
1. CF Kevin Pillar
2. LF Tyler Austin
3. 1B Brandon Belt
4. C Buster Posey
5. 3B Evan Longoria
6. 2B Yangervis Solarte
7. SS Brandon Crawford
8. RF Gerardo Parra
9. LHP Derek Holland

It is partly cloudy and cool in San Francisco today. Not a bad day to spend at the ballpark. This afternoon’s game will begin at 4:05pm ET and you can watch on the YES Network. Enjoy the game.

Injury Updates: Miguel Andujar (shoulder) went 3-for-5 as the DH in an Extended Spring Training game today. He is going to rest tomorrow and play third base in an ExST game Monday, and if all goes well, he’ll begin an official minor league rehab assignment with High-A Tampa on Tuesday … Troy Tulowitzki (calf) played a simulated game yesterday and will play in an ExST on Monday … Aaron Hicks (back) is tentatively scheduled to begin playing in ExST games next Wednesday … Clint Frazier (ankle) played catch today and is expected to return right when his ten days on the injured list are up, or shortly thereafter. He is eligible to be activated Friday … Jacoby Ellsbury (hip) is coming along slowly with his rehab because “little things” keep popping up, Aaron Boone said.

Rotation Update: Domingo German starts tomorrow, Monday is an off-day, Masahiro Tanaka starts Tuesday, and CC Sabathia starts Wednesday. The Yankees flipped Tanaka and Sabathia. Tanaka will start Tuesday on normal rest and Sabathia gets an extra day. Disregard, Aaron Boone misspoke this morning. The Yankees are not flipping Tanaka and Sabathia. German tomorrow, off-day Monday, Sabathia on Tuesday, Tanaka on Wednesday. Everyone stays on turn.

Game 26: A rare trip to San Francisco

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(Presswire)

The six-game winning streak came to an end with a thud last night. A blown four-run lead and a six-run loss. I was hoping the Yankees would win out leading into RAB’s shut down Monday, but alas. Winning streaks end. It happens. The important thing is making sure it doesn’t turn into a losing streak.

“Always frustrated when we don’t put our best foot forward and had a chance to almost put that game away,” Aaron Boone told George King following last night’s loss.

The Yankees and Giants have lots of history (six World Series matchups) and the Yankees are making the rare trip to San Francisco this weekend. This is their first road series against the Giants since 2007 and only their second ever during interleague play. Pretty fun. Here are tonight’s lineups:

New York Yankees
1. 2B DJ LeMahieu
2. 1B Luke Voit
3. SS Gleyber Torres
4. 3B Gio Urshela
5. RF Cameron Maybin
6. C Austin Romine
7. CF Mike Tauchman
8. LF Thairo Estrada
9. LHP James Paxton

San Francisco Giants
1. CF Kevin Pillar
2. 1B Tyler Austin
3. LF Brandon Belt
4. C Buster Posey
5. 3B Evan Longoria
6. 2B Yangervis Solarte
7. SS Brandon Crawford
8. LHP Madison Bumgarner
9. RF Steven Duggar

Yes, that is Thairo Estrada in left field. He has played zero (0) career games in the outfield. Thairo went through a left field crash course with first base coach/outfield instructor Reggie Willits this afternoon. Well, anyway, it is a cloudy and cool evening in the Bay Area. First pitch is scheduled for 10:15pm ET and you can watch on the YES Network. Enjoy the game.

Injury Updates: Miguel Andujar (shoulder) played five innings in an Extended Spring Training game today and went 2-for-3 with a walk and a home run. He wasn’t tested much defensively. “The bat’s fine, everything looked good. You wouldn’t know he was hurt. They should be encouraged,” said an evaluator to Erik Boland. Andujar will DH in an ExST game Saturday, rest Sunday, play another ExST game Monday, then join High-A Tampa for an official minor league rehab assignment Tuesday. If all goes well, he could rejoin the Yankees next weekend.

Game 24: Milestone Night?

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(Mark Brown/Getty)

Are they playing crisp and clean baseball right now? No, but the Yankees are racking up wins and they go into tonight one game behind the Rays in the loss column. Imagine if the roles were reversed and the Rays were closing in on the Yankees despite all the injuries? They’d write scripture about them.

Anyway, CC Sabathia has a chance to make history tonight. Six more strikeouts and he’ll become the 17th member of the 3,000-strikeout club. Sabathia isn’t a big strikeout pitcher anymore, plus the Angels rarely strike out, but six strikeouts is definitely doable. The milestone is within reach.

“Getting it out of the way early would be great,” Sabathia told George King about the milestone. “It’s not something I am focusing on. I making sure I stay healthy enough to help the team win.”

The milestone would be cool. Another win would be even cooler. The Yankees have won five straight games and seven of their last eight games. They haven’t all been pretty, but who cares. They are wins in the bank. Here are tonight’s starting lineups:

New York Yankees
1. 2B DJ LeMahieu
2. DH Luke Voit
3. CF Brett Gardner
4. C Gary Sanchez
5. SS Gleyber Torres
6. 1B Mike Ford
7. 3B Gio Urshela
8. RF Mike Tauchman
9. LF Tyler Wade

LHP CC Sabathia

Los Angeles Angels
1. 2B David Fletcher
2. CF Mike Trout
3. SS Andrelton Simmons
4. 1B Albert Pujols
5. LF Brian Goodwin
6. C Jonathan Lucroy
7. DH Kevan Smith
8. RF Kole Calhoun
9. 3B Zack Cozart

RHP Cam Bedrosian (opener for RHP Felix Pena)

Safe to assume it is another great night for baseball in Anaheim. Pretty great weather in New York too. Tonight’s game will begin at 10:07pm ET and you can watch on the YES Network locally and MLB Network nationally. Enjoy the game.

Injury Updates: Clint Frazier (ankle) went for an MRI today and the Yankees are waiting for the results. His ankle is still swollen and black and blue … Giancarlo Stanton (biceps) had to get a cortisone shot in his shoulder recently. The biceps is healed, but now his shoulder is barking. He’ll resume his work in a few days and won’t return before the end of the road trip … Miguel Andujar (shoulder) took live batting practice and could play in Extended Spring Training games soon. It should be noted he is not out of the woods yet with regards to potential season-ending surgery, but so far, so good … Aaron Hicks (back) took live batting practice as well and has ramped up all his baseball activities. He took could play in ExST games soon … Troy Tulowitzki (calf) also took live batting practice and could play in ExST games soon … Didi Gregorius (Tommy John surgery) is continuing to stretch out his throwing. All is going well.

Roster Moves: In case you missed it earlier, the Yankees sent down the struggling Chad Green. Bummer, but it had to be done. On the bright side, Sanchez is back! Hooray! Kyle Higashioka was sent down to clear a spot for Sanchez and Stephen Tarpley was called up to replace Green.

Game 23: Not Another Marathon

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(Sean M. Haffey/Getty)

Gosh, last night was a grind. Did you stay up for the entire game? I hope not. I did and I regretted it when my alarm went off this morning. Five hits in 14 innings? In a West Coast night game? No one deserves that. Fortunately, the Yankees eked out a win, and they’ve won six of their last seven games.

“Finding a way right now. It’s not easy for us by any means but the guys have been finding a way,” Aaron Boone said to George King following last night’s win. “… A lot of big outings from pitchers and we caught the ball well. Really happy with the way guys are competing and getting after it right now.”

After that game last night, I’m hoping for a bit of a laugher tonight. Score early and often, and cruise to the finish line, you know? I think we all deserve that after last night. After the last two games, really. Sunday was a battle too. Anyway, here are tonight’s lineups:

New York Yankees
1. 3B DJ LeMahieu
2. DH Luke Voit
3. CF Brett Gardner
4. SS Gleyber Torres
5. 1B Mike Ford
6. RF Mike Tauchman
7. C Austin Romine
8. 2B Thairo Estrada
9. LF Tyler Wade

RHP Domingo German

Los Angeles Angels
1. RF Kole Calhoun
2. CF Mike Trout
3. 1B Justin Bour
4. SS Andrelton Simmons
5. DH Albert Pujols
6. LF Brian Goodwin
7. C Kevan Smith
8. 2B Tommy La Stella
9. 3B David Fletcher

RHP Chris Stratton

Another picture perfect evening in Anaheim. Probably. I didn’t bother to check. Tonight’s game will begin at 10:07pm ET and the YES Network will have the broadcast. Enjoy the game.

Injury Updates: Clint Frazier (ankle) has some swelling, but he feels good and is available tonight. Boone held him out of the lineup as a precaution.

Roster Move: As expected, Jonathan Loaisiga was called up earlier today, the Yankees announced. He is available out of the bullpen following last night’s marathon. A big lead and Loaisiga finishing the game would be ideal. Joe Harvey was sent down in a corresponding move.

Game 22: West Coastin’

by

(Presswire)

The homestand is over and the Yankees will spend RAB’s final week out on the West Coast. Rude! Well, anyway, the Yankees have won three straight games and five of their last six games, so I hereby deem them: On a roll. They’re on a roll. Now they have to keep it going out on the other side of the country.

“We’ve lost a couple of guys who are irreplaceable here, but we’ve got to find a way to do it,” Austin Romine said to Dan Martin following yesterday’s walk-off win. “Guys are hitting pretty high in the lineup that wouldn’t necessarily be there … We’ve got to scrape and claw for wins, whenever they come.”

Once upon a time Anaheim was a house of horrors for the Yankees. Those were the Joe Torre era Yankees though. The Yankees have won seven of their last ten games in LAnaheim now. Free advice: Don’t pitch to that Mike Trout guy. Make it so the other Angels have to beat you. Here are the lineups:

New York Yankees
1. CF Brett Gardner
2. 1B Luke Voit
3. SS Gleyber Torres
4. LF Clint Frazier
5. RF Mike Tauchman
6. DH Mike Ford
7. 3B Gio Urshela
8. C Kyle Higashioka
9. 2B Tyler Wade

LHP J.A. Happ

Los Angeles Angels
1. 2B David Fletcher
2. CF Mike Trout
3. SS Andrelton Simmons
4. 1B Albert Pujols
5. DH Kevan Smith
6. C Jonathan Lucroy
7. RF Kole Calhoun
8. 3B Zack Cozart
9. LF Brian Goodwin

RHP Matt Harvey

I’m not even going to bother to check the weather. Safe to assume it is a lovely night in Orange Country. Tonight’s game is scheduled to begin at 10:07pm ET and you can watch on the YES Network locally and MLB Network nationally. Enjoy the game.

Rotation Update: Jonathan Loaisiga is being called up to make a spot start tomorrow, Aaron Boone announced. No one’s hurt or being skipped. The Yankees are just giving their five regular starters an extra day. It’ll be Loaisiga on Tuesday, Domingo German on Wednesday, and CC Sabathia on Thursday. Going with Loaisiga tells you all you need to know about how little bang for the buck they thought they’d get from Gio Gonzalez.

Game 21: Win it for Judge

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(Elsa/Getty)

Another day, another injury. And it was maybe the worst injury of all. The Yankees lost Aaron Judge to a “pretty significant” left oblique strain yesterday. Obliques are rarely “spend ten days on the injured list and come back good as new” injuries. It’s going to take some time for Judge and his massive oblique to heal up, and then get up to game speed.

“I truly feel it will make it sweeter after going through all of this,” Aaron Boone told Joel Sherman following yesterday’s win. “We have a resilient group. We are getting plenty of good news with players making progress working their way back. We will find our way through this. As I told Aaron before he left, this will make it all sweeter when we get to where we want to go.”

The injuries are getting comical at this point, but what can you do? Just cross your fingers and hope no one else gets hurt. On the bright side, the Yankees have won four of their last five games and five of their last seven games. Keep it going, next man up, etc. etc. Here are today’s split squad lineups:

New York Yankees
1. 2B DJ LeMahieu
2. DH Luke Voit
3. CF Brett Gardner
4. RF Clint Frazier
5. LF Mike Tauchman
6. 3B Gio Urshela
7. 1B Mike Ford
8. C Austin Romine
9. SS Tyler Wade

LHP James Paxton

Kansas City Royals
1. 2B Whit Merrifield
2. SS Adalberto Mondesi
3. LF Alex Gordon
4. 1B Hunter Dozier
5. RF Jorge Soler
6. 3B Chris Owings
7. DH Lucas Duda
8. C Martin Maldonado
9. CF Billy Hamilton

RHP Jorge Lopez

It is a bit cloudy in New York, but otherwise it’s a pleasant afternoon for a ballgame. Today’s homestand finale will begin at 1:05pm ET and the YES Network will have the broadcast. Enjoy the game.

Injury Update: Gary Sanchez (calf) will play his rehab game with Low-A Charleston tomorrow and, as long as everything goes well, he’ll join the Yankees on Tuesday and be activated Wednesday. Triple-A Scranton and Double-A Trenton are both on the road tomorrow. Charleston’s the closest affiliate for a warm weather game … Jacoby Ellsbury (hip) has “had some things” pop up that have slowed his rehab. He’s yet to ramp up baseball activities. Congrats to the Steinbrenners on the insurance money … Gleyber Torres is fine. Just a rest day.

Roster Move: In case you missed it earlier, Thairo Estrada was called up to replace Judge on the roster. Wade is the backup outfielder right now. Also, the Thairo call-up announcement was kinda weird yesterday. “The Yankees expect INF Thairo Estrada to replace OF Aaron Judge on the roster tomorrow,” is how they announced it. Usually they explicitly say this player will be called up, not they “expect” this player to be called up. That leads me to believe Brian Cashman was working the phones hard looking for another outfielder after the Judge injury.