10-14
@
10-16
First Game -- 3:35 PM ET
Pitching Matchup
Rangers: Tejeda is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in his last three starts and 11-9 with a 3.32 ERA in 32 career Major League starts. He is 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA at home this year and 1-4 with a 5.90 ERA in eight career starts in Arlington. Left-handed hitters are batting .322 off him and right-handers are hitting .175. Opponents are battig .174 off him with runners in scoring position. He made one start against the Yankees last year and allowed six runs in three innings.
Yankees: Pettitte just never had his good command in his last appearance against the Red Sox on Friday, relaying frustration that he found himself just praying to throw a strike over the heart of the plate to some of Boston's hitters. That approach will get you in trouble, and it caught up to Pettitte in a three-run fifth inning that chased the lefty after 4 2/3 innings. Pettitte has been the Yankees' jack-of-all-pitching trades this year, making two relief appearances and serving as a mentor to younger hurlers.big-league victory.
Second Game -- 8:05 PM ET
Rangers: Millwood is 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in his last three starts. He had a 4-1 lead going into the sixth inning against the Blue Jays but gave up four runs and couldn't get out of the inning. Left-handers are hitting .346 off him and right-handers are hitting .284. He is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts at home. He is 1-4 with a 4.82 ERA in six starts in his career against the Yankees.
Yankees: Tentatively, assuming all goes well with his strained left hamstring, the Yankees are planning to activate Mussina in time to make the start. Mussina felt his hamstring pull in his April 11 outing at Minnesota and went on the shelf, but the strain was termed mild and he pitched under simulated conditions last week in New York. He was 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA in three starts against Texas in 2006.
Lineups)(based on 4/30/07)
***These will obviously differ for both games, as players will need rest***
Texas:
1) Kenny Lofton, CF
2) Michael Young, SS
3) Mark Texeira, 1B
4) Sammy Sosa, DH
5) Hank Blalock, 3B
6) Ian Kinsler, 2B
7) Brad Wilkerson, LF
8) Nelson Cruz, RF
9) Gerald Laird
BRONX BOMBERS
1)Positively Damonic
2)El Capitan
3)El Como Dulce
4)Alexander the Great
5)The Giambino
6)Godzilla
7)Hip Hip Jorge
8)Robbie Cano Don't Ya Kno
9)DOUGIE or JOSH
Yankees are coming off a big, but devasting win over Texas on Tuesday night. Young phenom brought his no hitter into the 7 inning before a hamstring pop forced him out of the game, and will be out for 6 weeks. Yankees look to Pettitte to have a strong outing and to keep the pen rested.
Damon is reportedly returning to the lineup after a one game hiatus. Not sure where Bobby will be put in the lineup. Cano needs to be moved up IMHO
Prediction: Pettitte goes 6+ innings and pitches well, but so does Tejeda and we pull it out in a close 5-2 game, with Mo getting his second save of the season.
"A bad April might not ruin October dreams. But it probably will. In the last 25 years, clubs exiting April more than three games under .500 missed the playoffs 94.4 percent of the time." ~ Courtesy Jason Stark, ESPN
Lets LOWER LOWER LOWER that percentage!!
GO YANKEES
