(Presswire)

This series is about as important as a mid-May series can get. The Orioles gave the Yankees fits down the stretch last year and currently sit four games back in the AL East, so these three games will give the Bombers a chance to create some distance in the division race. Almost no lead is insurmountable this time of year, but that doesn’t mean having decent-sized cushion isn’t a big deal. Here’s the lineup that will face former Yankee right-hander Freddy Garcia…

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. 2B Robinson Cano
3. DH Travis Hafner
4. 1B Lyle Overbay
5. LF Curtis Granderson
6. 3B David Adams
7. RF Ichiro Suzuki
8. SS Reid Brignac
9. C Austin Romine

And on the mound is the Indians’ leader in homers hit by a pitcher over the last 40 years (two), left-hander CC Sabathia.

It’s cloudy in Baltimore and the forecast calls for some showers later tonight. Hopefully they won’t be bad enough to delay or postpone the game. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm ET and can be seen on YES locally and ESPN nationally. Enjoy.

Injury Updates (via the AP): Chris Stewart (groin) is feeling better but is still unable to return to anything more than emergency catching duty … Alex Rodriguez (hip) fielded grounders today for the first time since surgery … Kevin Youkilis (back) took batting practice on the field, fielded grounders at first and third, and made throws to the bases … Eduardo Nunez (ribcage) fielding some grounders … Joba Chamberlain (oblique) threw a bullpen session and is expected to make another minor league appearances this week … earlier today we learned Mark Teixeira (wrist) took some at-bats in a simulated game.

(Photo via CookAndSonBats.MLBlogs.com)

Mother Nature might have mercy on the Blue Jays today. After losing the first two games of this series and eight of their first nine games against the Yankees this year, Toronto might be able to weasel out of Sunday’s game thanks to a steady but not heavy rain. Here’s the lineup they’re sending out there against knuckleballing right-hander and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey…

1. CF Curtis Granderson
2. 2B Robinson Cano
3. LF Vernon Wells
4. DH Travis Hafner
5. 1B Lyle Overbay
6. 3B Jayson Nix
7. RF Ichiro Suzuki
8. SS Reid Brignac
9. C Austin Romine

And on the mound is the 2009 ALCS MVP, left-hander CC Sabathia.

This afternoon’s game is scheduled to start a little at 1pm ET, but that seems unlikely based on what’s going on outside my window. If/when they do play, you can watch on YES. Enjoy.

Update (12:33pm): The game has been postponed with no makeup date announced. The Jays come back to the Bronx just one more time this year, from August 20-22. Both teams are off on the 19th, so that might work for a makeup date.

(Elsa/Getty)

The Yankees have won seven of their first eight games against the Blue Jays this year, which is pretty close to the best case scenario. Regardless of what happened elsewhere around the league, the Bombers had to take care of business against their division rivals if they wanted to compete despite all of the injury problems. They’ve certainly laid a beating on Toronto so far. Here’s the lineup the Yankees are running out there against right-hander Brandon Morrow…

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. 2B Robinson Cano
3. LF Vernon Wells
4. DH Travis Hafner
5. 1B Lyle Overbay
6. RF Curtis Granderson – first career start in right
7. SS Jayson Nix
8. 3B David Adams
9. C Austin Romine

And on the mound is the former Mat-Su Miner in the collegiate summer Alaska Baseball League, right-hander David Phelps.

It’s a little overcast in New York, but there’s no threat of rain or anything. The game is scheduled to start a few minutes after 1pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.

Eduardo Nunez Update: Nunez (ribcage) is expected to start hitting in the batting cage in a few days. He’s eligible to come off the DL next Tuesday, but David Adams’ nice start and the recently acquired Reid Brignac means there’s no need to rush him.

(Al Bello/Getty)

The Yankees just lost two of three to Mariners, only their fifth series loss in 14 tries this year. Two of their series wins have come against the Blue Jays, who are in town for another three games starting tonight. Come Monday, one out of every four games the Yankees have played this year will have been against the new-look Jays.

Toronto is still stuck in last place in the AL East, but they’re playing way better than they were a few weeks ago. They’ve won four straight and seven of their last ten, and the offense has scored at least ten runs in each of their last three games. The Yankees are going to have to be at their best to win a third straight series against their division rivals to the north. Southpaw Mark Buehrle is on the bump, and here’s the lineup he’ll face…

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. SS Jayson Nix
3. 2B Robinson Cano
4. LF Vernon Wells
5. DH Ben Francisco
6. 1B Lyle Overbay
7. 3B David Adams
8. RF Ichiro Suzuki
9. C Austin Romine

Right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will be on the mound for the Bombers. The game is scheduled to start a little after 7pm ET and can be seen on My9. Enjoy.

Travis Hafner Update: Hafner (shoulder) took batting practice and said he’s available to pinch-hit. If a right-hander was on the mound, he would have started.

(Al Bello/Getty)

The Yankees and Mariners have split the first two games of this three-game series in very different ways. New York mounted a late-inning comeback in the opener before getting completely blown out yesterday. Did you know the Yankees have trailed after the first inning 14 times this year? They’ve had the lead after the first just five times, and they’ve been outscored 63-54 in the first three innings this year. Early runs and a fast start, please. Here’s the lineup that will face former Yankee Hector Noesi…

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. SS Jayson Nix
3. 2B Robinson Cano
4. LF Vernon Wells
5. 1B Lyle Overbay
6. DH Curtis Granderson
7. 3B David Adams
8. RF Ichiro Suzuki
9. C Chris Stewart

And on the mound is 1996 Al Cy Young Award runner-up, left-hander Andy Pettitte.

The weather is damn near flawless in New York right now, so it’s a perfect night for baseball. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.

(Elsa/Getty)

The Yankees had a new (new-ish, anyway) left fielder last night, now they have a new third baseman. The team has called up David Adams, as expected, and he is in the starting lineup at third base. Rumor has it he will get an opportunity to play the hot corner on an everyday basis — everyday for the injury-prone Adams is four or five times a week — while Kevin Youkilis is out, which means another two or three weeks. Maybe longer. Youkilis hasn’t done much rehab work in Tampa yet. Here’s the lineup the Yankees are throwing at right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma…

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. 2B Robinson Cano
3. DH Vernon Wells
4. LF Curtis Granderson
5. 1B Lyle Overbay
6. 3B David Adams
7. RF Ichiro Suzuki
8. C Chris Stewart
9. SS Alberto Gonzalez

And on the mound is the 2010 All-Star Game loser, right-hander Phil Hughes.

Tonight’s game will begin a little after 7pm ET, and it can be seen on YES. Enjoy.

(Elsa/Getty)

The first place New York Yankees just got their 40-homer outfielder back.

As expected, Curtis Granderson was activated off the DL earlier today, adding some thump and much-needed depth to the lineup. As an added bonus, he is shifting to left field as the Yankees look to optimized their defense by keeping Brett Gardner in center. I can’t imagine Granderson is happy about that, especially in his free agent year, but I’m guessing we won’t hear a peep out of him. Dude is a total pro. Here’s the lineup that will face right-hander Felix Hernandez…

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. 2B Robinson Cano
3. DH Vernon Wells
4. LF Curtis Granderson
5. 1B Lyle Overbay
6. SS Jayson Nix
7. RF Ichiro Suzuki
8. 3B Chris Nelson
9. C Austin Romine

And on the mound is left-hander CC Sabathia.

Little chilly, but otherwise the weather in New York is wonderful. Tonight’s game is scheduled to start at 7:05pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.

Kevin Youkilis Update: Youkilis (back) is still limited to light workouts in Tampa, basically playing catch and fielding grounders hit right at him. Doesn’t sound like he is close to returning at all.

Mark Teixeira Update: Teixeira (wrist) continues to take batting practice in addition to running and fielding drills. He’s been doing that for a few days now, but there is no word on when he will be able to begin playing minor league games.

Alex Rodriguez Update: A-Rod (hip) is hitting in the batting cage and sprinting, but nothing more. He still has a long way to go, obviously.

Pretty sure I will never not use this photo for Yankees-Indians. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

* Obligatory headline is obligatory.

The Yankees are in Cleveland for a quick one-day, two-game visit with the Indians. Today was supposed to be an off-day for the club, but they need to make up those two rained out games from last month. It stinks losing an off-day, but it’s better to get these games out of the way now rather than later in the summer, once it heats up and giving guys rest is a little more important. Here’s the lineup that will face low-slot right-hander Justin Masterson…

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. LF Ichiro Suzuki
3. 2B Robinson Cano
4. DH Travis Hafner
5. RF Brennan Boesch
6. 3B Chris Nelson
7. 1B Corban Joseph — fourth career game at first, all this year
8. C Chris Stewart
9. SS Alberto Gonzalez

And on the mound is the 2010 Double-A Eastern League All-Star, right-hander David Phelps.

This game, the first of the doubleheader, is scheduled to start at 12:05pm ET. You can watch on YES. Enjoy.

Roster Update: Joseph is officially up with the team as the 26th man for the doubleheader. By rule, he must go back to Triple-A Scranton immediately following the two games. Brett Marshall is supposedly on standby at the team hotel in case they need to add a pitcher between games.

(Ed Zurga/Getty)

Even though they’ve won 21 of their last 30 games, the Yankees have yet to sweep a three-game series this year. That comes with a big asterisk though, remember they did sweep the Blue Jays in a four-game series at Yankee Stadium late last month. They’ve won the first two games of this series in Kansas City and have arguably their best pitcher on the mound going for their fifth straight win overall this afternoon. Here’s the lineup that will face right-hander Ervin Santana…

1. CF Brett Gardner
2. 2B Robinson Cano
3. LF Vernon Wells
4. DH Travis Hafner
5. RF Ichiro Suzuki
6. SS Jayson Nix
7. 1B Lyle Overbay
8. 3B Chris Nelson
9. C Chris Stewart

And on the mound is the 2005 Best Nine Award winner in Nippon Pro Baseball, right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. That award is given annually the best player at each position.

This afternoon’s game is scheduled to start at 2:10pm ET and can be seen on YES. Enjoy.

Mariano Rivera-Joba Chamberlain Spat: As you’ve probably heard, Mo and Joba had a little verbal spat in the dugout prior to yesterday’s game. Sweeny Murti says they kissed and made up afterwards. The only real mistake here was letting it happen in public. No big deal.

Real Joba News: Chamberlain (oblique) felt fine after throwing a bullpen session this morning. He’ll make a minor league rehab appearance with Triple-A Scranton on Tuesday. The team will see how he feels about that, but it’s possible he’ll be activated off the DL as soon as Thursday.

Ivan Nova Update: Nova (triceps) felt something in his side playing catch either yesterday or today, so he has been ruled out for tomorrow’s doubleheader against the Indians. Joe Girardi confirmed he would have been activated off the DL to start the second game.