We all want to see the Yankees win every game. We know it’s impossible, but wins are just so nice that we tend to get greedy. Tonight, I don’t think it’s a matter of greed. It’s a matter of winning a game to relieve the fanbase of some anxiety. Andy Pettitte helped with his performance last night, and the next step is to pick up a W against the Angels in Anaheim.
The Yanks will go at it with Chad Gaudin, their recently named fifth starter. The Yanks acquired him in early August for $100,000 and the pro-rated league minimum salary. What a steal he’s been. It hasn’t been perfect — and no one would expect that from Gaudin, who at 26 years old is already something of a journeyman.
In four starts so far with the Yankees Gaudin has thrown 19.2 innings, allowing seven runs and striking out 15 to 11 walks. That’s a rough ratio, but nearly half those walks came in his first start for the Yanks, against Oakland. He might have a rough go tonight: he’s typically hell on righties, but the Angels have a ton of switch hitters. Gaudin could face a lot of guys hitting lefty.
The Angels will send out Ervin Santana. After what seemed like a breakout year in 2008, in which he had a 4.55 K/BB ratio and a 3.49 ERA in 219 innings, Santana has regressed in 2009. He missed all of April with an elbow injury, and pitched horribly when he came back. It wasn’t long before he complained of forearm tightness, eventually hitting the DL with “inflammation in his triceps area.” Yet even since his return from that he’s been a disappointment, striking out just 74 and walking 31 in 91.1 innings. His ERA in that span is 4.73, a bit down from his season ERA of 5.43.
Once again, Girardi is not messing around, hauling out a version of the A-lineup.
1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Johnny Damon, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Hideki Matsui, DH
6. Jorge Posada, C
7. Robinson Cano, 2B
8. Nick Swisher, RF
9. Brett Gardner, CF
And on the mound, number forty-one, Chad Gaudin.
David Robertson Injury Update: D-Rob took 20 pitches from a mound in the bullpen prior to the game. According to numerous reports from Anaheim, the right-hander is feeling great and will toss another pen session on Thursday. He should be activated in time to face Boston over the weekend.