Game 48: Reverse Split

Left-hander Matt Moore has some of the nastiest pure stuff in baseball, with the easiest mid-90s velocity you’ll ever see and a breaking ball that both bends and sweeps. So why has Joe Girardi included five left-handed hitters in the lineup against the Tampa southpaw today? Because of his reverse split:

	AVG	OBP	SLG	BABIP	wOBA	K%	BB%	GB%
2013 vs. LHB	0.214	0.313	0.411	0.214	0.320	17.2%	10.9%	40.0%
2013 vs. RHB	0.155	0.261	0.304	0.190	0.257	26.7%	11.8%	34.0%
Career vs. LHB	0.232	0.336	0.359	0.232	0.313	17.3%	11.4%	43.4%
Career vs. RHB	0.219	0.307	0.372	0.219	0.299	26.0%	10.5%	35.1%

So are pitcher platoon splits more important than hitter platoon splits? I don’t know. I guess that’s a case-by-case thing. The Yankees haven’t exactly fared well against left-handers this season — .231/.275/.328 (66 wRC+) — and it’s not like they have a bunch of big righty bats on the bench, so they might as well just run their best hitters out there regardless of handedness. Here’s the lineup that will face Mr. Moore…

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

And on the mound is the former Baker University Wildcat, left-hander Vidal Nuno.

This afternoon’s game is scheduled to start at 4:10pm ET and can be seen on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. Enjoy.

Roster Move: As expected, the Yankees have officially recalled Brennan Boesch from Triple-A Scranton. He replaces Curtis Granderson, who was placed on the 15-day DL with a fractured left pinky.

Injury Updates: David Phelps (forearm) is bruised and sore after being hit by a line drive last night, but he expects to make his next start … Andy Pettitte (trap) came through today’s bullpen session fine, yet there’s still no word on when he’ll pitch in a simulated game … Hiroki Kuroda (calf) threw a bullpen session and felt a little tightness, but he’s still expected to make his next start.