Regardless of who wins tonight, the Dodgers will exit the weekend with the best record in baseball. That isn’t up for grabs tonight and will take 30 more games to play out.
But there’s something to be said about the psychological advantage, the knowledge that you can go into one of the other contender’s homes and win a series, beat two of the three best starters in baseball. The Yankees have an opportunity to do that with Clayton Kershaw going tonight after they beat up on Hyun-Jin Ryu on Friday.
Ultimately, that won’t affect the long run much. The Yankees’ actual probability of facing the Dodgers again isn’t that high with the Astros and baseball’s playoff system lying ahead. Still, the Yankees want this. They want to beat the Dodgers, more than your average interleague series in late August.
So here are tonight’s lineups:
Yankees (84-47)
- DJ LeMahieu, 1B
- Aaron Judge, RF
- Didi Gregorius, SS
- Gleyber Torres, 2B
- Gary Sanchez, C
- Brett Gardner, CF
- Gio Urshela, 3B
- Mike Tauchman, LF
- Domingo German, P
Dodgers (86-45)
- Joc Pederson, LF
- Max Muncy, 2B
- Justin Turner, 3B
- Cody Bellinger, RF
- Corey Seager, SS
- Chris Taylor, CF
- Matt Beaty, 1B
- Austin Barnes, C
- Clayton Kershaw, P
News & Notes
- The Yankees are inquiring to MLB about yesterday’s controversial ninth-inning call, but they don’t seem to be protesting, as it was a judgment call and not an incorrect interpretation of a rule.
- Giancarlo Stanton will start swinging on the field this week, while Edwin Encarnacion is starting baseball activities. Imagine adding one or two of those guys for a Minor League playoff game!
Tonight’s game starts at 7:05 p.m. on ESPN. Gonna be A-Rod and the gang for a game in beautiful Los Angeles weather.