Weekly Preview: NYY @ KC 8/9 - 8/11, NYY @ CHW 8/12 (Field of Dreams Game), 8/14-8/15

Weekly Preview: NYY @ KC 8/9 - 8/11,  NYY @ CHW 8/12 (Field of Dreams Game), 8/14-8/15

 

We should have so many reasons to be happy heading into the week of the highly-anticipated (and postponed) Field of Dreams game.  

Photo credit: CBS Sports

However, we’re living the 2021 Yankees experience.  Our Lord and Savior Anthony Rizzo has Covid and will be out for at least the next ten days.  The “New” New York Yankees failed to complete the sweep against the Mariners after winning eight of their last ten games.  There is certainly a massive turnaround since the trade deadline; however, if the Yankees are going to be true postseason contenders, they’re not going to get there by scoring ten runs one game and then getting shut out by the Mariners just days later.  They’re not going to get there if injuries continue (ICYMI, Gleyber Torres needs an MRI).  They’re not going to get there if they cannot figure out their Covid issue.  They’re not going to get there if they cannot sweep the Mariners or the Baltimore Orioles.

Heading into another week -- Field of Dreams or not -- of must-win games, at least the first half is against the fourth-place Kansas City Royals.  The Chicago White Sox will be a more difficult opponent as they are in first place in the A.L. Central, but in a hunt for even a second A.L. Wild Card spot, the Yankees need to figure it out.  Here are the matchups: 

 

NYY @ KC

Game 1: Monday, August 9 | First Pitch: 8:10pm | TV: YES

Jameson Taillon (7-4, 4.04 ERA) vs. Carlos Hernandez (3-1, 4.58 ERA)

Game 2: Tuesday, August 10 | First Pitch: 8:10pm | TV: YES, MLBN (Out of Market)

Nestor Cortes (0-0, 2.15 ERA) vs. Daniel Lynch (2-3, 6.00 ERA)

Game 3: Wednesday, August 11 | First Pitch: 2:10pm | TV: YES, MLBN (Out of Market)

TBD vs. Brady Singer (3-7, 5.13 ERA)

 

NYY @ CHW

Game 1 -- Field of Dreams Game: Thursday, August 12 | First Pitch: 7:00pm | TV: FOX

TBD vs. Carlos Rodon (9-5, 2.38 ERA)

Game 2: Saturday, August 14 | First Pitch: 7:10pm | TV: YES Network

TBD vs. TBD

Game 3: Sunday, August 1 | First Pitch: 2:10pm | TV: WPIX, TBS (Out of Market)

TBD vs. TBD

There’s some good news here: Jameson Taillon and Nestor Cortes have held it down.  What with Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery on the Covid-IL as well as Domingo German out with right shoulder inflammation, starting pitching has become a problem for the Yankees and Taillon and Cortes have stepped up.  The Royals are a lifetime 9-for-46 and have hit .242 against Taillon, with just one RBI and no home runs.  Against Cortes, the Royals are a lifetime 6-for-22 and have hit .233, without any home runs or RBIs. 

With regard to Royals pitching… the season ERAs for the probable series starters are also good news for the Yankees.  They have faced relative newcomer Carlos Hernandez for just seven at-bats and are 1-for-7 against him, so there’s not much to go on.  Same with Daniel Lynch, who got the call just this season -- not one Yankee has seen him yet.  Brady Singer, who will start the third game of the set, is fresh off the I.L. -- he faced the Yankees once this season on June 22 (unfortunately, the Yankees went on to lose the game). 

The only pitcher announced for the White Sox series is the White Sox pitcher in the Field of Dreams game, Carlos Rodon -- who, by virtue of his record and ERA, is having himself a season.  The Yankees need to be careful, too; they are 13-for-74 with a batting average of .136 against Rodon.  The two home runs they’ve managed against him belong to pre-Yankees Joey Gallo, and Torres. 

What to watch for:

Gleyber Good
Is Gleyber Torres back?  It’s certainly looking that way.  He’s hit .393 in the month of August, going 11-for-28 with five RBIs, a walk and a .923 OPS.  However, we’re still awaiting news of his MRI following Sunday’s tragic finale to the Mariners series.  

Photo credit: AP News

Gil on the hill
While Luis Gil was sent back to AAA following that same tragic finale on Sunday, chances are we’ll see him again with German still sidelined and no solid timeline for his return ​. I almost hope we do see him again, following two shut-out performances in his first two MLB appearances… considering the following:

Luis Gil is first pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) with 14+ K, fewer than 10 Baserunners and 0 Runs allowed in his first 2 career MLB games.

— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) August 8, 2021

Comeback Gio
In his Sunday postgame presser, Aaron Boone announced the probable return of Gio Urshela as soon as Wednesday.  While I love Rougned Odor, his error at 3B on Sunday was painful and costly, and the unparalleled Urshela glove will be more than welcome.  Additionally, without Rizzo at 1B (following Rizzo’s comments to Odor that all he would have to do is “throw the ball” and he’ll catch it), the job became more difficult for Odor and won’t be for Urshela. Or, if Gleyber is forced to miss any time, the Yankees might have no choice but to shift Gio to the everyday shortstop role while keeping Odor stationed at third.

Rougned Odor said that when he was moved to third base the other day for the first time, Anthony Rizzo told him...

"Just throw the ball, I'll catch everything."

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) August 6, 2021

Luke’s ready
Luke Voit rehabbed his most recent injury just in time for Rizzo's unavailability.  And according to his own press conference, he’s ready.

“I can go everyday. I’ve had like 100 off days this year.” -Luke Voit pic.twitter.com/yvquMRZZ2O

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 8, 2021

 

The Field of Dreams game will probably be the highlight of my week this week; I’ll plop on the couch with my Dad, we’ll drown our Yankees stress in ice cream and reminisce about the movie he introduced his baseball-loving daughter to as a child.  The phrase “If you build it, they will come” will probably come out of our mouths to the point of annoyance.  And what’s more, our team gets to be part of it all.  However, it won’t be a good memory if the Yankees cannot overcome their most recent set of Covid and injury souris.  It won’t be a good memory if the Yankees are heading into that game without sweeping the fourth-place Royals.  It won’t be a good memory if it’s yet another nail-biter that the Yankees’ offense manages to lose when the pitching, both starting and relieving, dominated.  And it won’t be a good memory if it doesn’t help the Yankees on their already rocky path to the postseason.

Article by: Mary Grace Donaldson
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