For the first time this season, a series win is on the line. The Yankees have, irritatingly, split the first two games of this season-opening three-game series with the lowly Orioles. Losses are inevitable, but damn, that doesn’t make them any less annoying. Especially against a team that very well might lose 115 games this season (again).
“Every game is important,” Aaron Judge said following yesterday’s loss. “You can go at the end of the year and look back and — last year we did that — so many missed opportunities and games we should have won, but we just didn’t come up with a big hit or a costly error, stuff like that … We can’t take anybody lightly. We’ve got to capitalize on situations when they come up.”
J.A. Happ is making his 13th start as a Yankee and his first of the season this afternoon. He was part of the team’s “spread the money around” offseason haul. A solid addition, to be sure, but also probably not someone who swings the balance of power in a division race. The Yankees don’t need Happ to be an ace. It sure would be nice to get the occasional ace-like outing though. Here are today’s lineups:
New York Yankees
1. CF Brett Gardner
2. RF Aaron Judge
3. LF Giancarlo Stanton
4. DH Luke Voit
5. 3B Miguel Andujar
6. C Gary Sanchez
7. 1B Greg Bird
8. SS Gleyber Torres
9. 2B DJ LeMahieu
LHP J.A. Happ
Baltimore Orioles
1. 2B Jonathan Villar
2. LF Dwight Smith Jr.
3. RF Trey Mancini
4. DH Renato Nunez
5. 3B Rio Ruiz
6. CF Joey Rickard
7. 1B Chris Davis
8. C Pedro Severino
9. SS Richie Martin
RHP Dylan Bundy
There is rain in the forecast this afternoon and, based on my weather app, it looks like today’s game will begin in a delay. It shouldn’t be an especially long delay — things are expected to clear up around 2pm ET or so — and, once it ends, they have a clear window to play. Still, delays stink. Today’s series finale is scheduled to begin at 1:05pm ET and you can watch on the YES Network locally and MLB Network out of market. Enjoy the game.
Injury Updates: Dellin Betances (shoulder) threw his first bullpen session yesterday since being shut down and everything went well. He has one more bullpen session scheduled before facing hitters.
Misc. Notes: The Yankees are still undecided about using an opener tomorrow. It’ll depend on the bullpen usage today. Domingo German is pitching in some capacity tomorrow though. We know that for sure … Aaron Boone said Greg Bird is the emergency third catcher, in case you’re wondering. He was drafted as a catcher and caught three rookie ball games in 2012 before moving to first base. Luke Voit has caught more recently (45 short season games in 2013).
Weather Update (12:17pm ET): Yep, the start of the game will be delayed, the Yankees say. No word on a start time yet. It shouldn’t been too long a delay given the radar.
Weather Update (3:19pm ET): lol so much for the rain delay not being too long. That’s what I get for trusting internet weather reports. The Yankees say they will reconvene in a half-hour and see where things are at.
Weather Update (3:38pm ET): The field is being de-tarped and the Yankees say the game will begin at approximately 4:20pm ET.