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Game 56: Let’s try this again

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On May 31, 2019

In Game Threads

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There’s no rain in tonight’s forecast, which means there will be baseball played in the Bronx. Rainouts like last night stink, but there were a couple positives from the postponement. One, no bullpen game this weekend. Two, an extra opportunity for the Yankees to take on the Red Sox at full-strength (fingers crossed) later this year.

Now that the good news is out of the way, let’s get to the bad news: Boston has the advantage in tonight’s pitching matchup. The Yankees roughed up Chris Sale earlier this season, but that was a different guy. Since then, his velocity has ticked up and he’s pitched better. The Bombers will counter with another southpaw, JA Happ. Here are the lineups:

Red Sox

  1. Mookie Betts, RF
  2. Andrew Benintendi, LF
  3. JD Martinez, DH
  4. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  5. Rafael Devers, 3B
  6. Steve Pearce, 1B
  7. Eduardo Núñez, 2B
  8. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
  9. Sandy León, C

SP. LHP Chris Sale

Yankees

  1. DJ LeMahieu, 2B
  2. Luke Voit, 1B
  3. Aaron Hicks, CF
  4. Gary Sanchez, C
  5. Gleyber Torres, SS
  6. Kendrys Morales, DH
  7. Gio Urshela, 3B
  8. Cameron Maybin, RF
  9. Brett Gardner, LF

SP. LHP JA Happ

Clint Frazier is noticeably absent from tonight’s lineup. Meanwhile, Gardner is starting despite being toothless against lefties. The reason? Almost certainly defense. There have been no shortage of Frazier miscues in the outfield lately, and with a fly ball pitcher like Happ on the mound, perhaps there’s some sense to this.

Then again, Frazier could have been the DH instead of Morales. Ultimately, it looks like the decision came down to batter-vs.-pitcher history. For what it’s worth, Morales has a .268/.302/.561 line in 43 plate appearances vs. Sale, including three homers. Clint is one-for-six with a homer against him.

Notes: A few injury updates to pass along via Lindsey Adler: Aaron Judge has started hitting off a tee, Giancarlo Stanton is “probably close” to restarting his rehab assignment, and Dellin Betances will throw a bullpen on Sunday. Lastly, an update on Didi Gregorius’s rehab assignment:

Sheesh, no luck whatsoever. Steven will have more on this in tonight’s edition of Down on the Farm.

Enjoy the game, everyone.

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21 Comments

  1. RetroRob

    Hi, Chip.

    It wasn’t a blowout, but it was also a comfortable win once the bullpen came in, and my fantasy starter (Sale) didn’t absorb too much damage to impact my team. Best of all, Hicks and Devers are also on my fantasy team, so they contributed some RBIs. A win all around.

  2. Deltajoe15

    Great day when the Sox an Rays both loose an Yankees win

  3. Chip

    So happy the Yankees gave Happ 3 years…

    • Mac

      Don’t worry, it will probably end up being just 2.

      $100 million cheaper than Corbin, that’s what mattered most.

      In all seriousness, Happ slots in as an acceptable 4ish starter. He’s unexciting though if you want a top of the rotation starter instead. I certainly did.

      • Chip

        I would have settled for 1 year of Morton..or even Gray…rather than give Happ a multiyear deal

      • RetroRob

        I’m checking in on this thread after the game. Are people unhappy with Happ’s pitching tonight?

        • Chip

          Happ’s pitching last night was fine. 1 night does not make a 3 year contract a good investment though.

  4. BillyMartinVanBuren Boys

    Happ isn’t exactly fooling anyone out there tonight is he?

  5. Fatrexhadswag

    Happ looks washed up, topping out at 91

  6. BillyMartinVanBuren Boys

    Keuchel now please

  7. Fatrexhadswag

    WordPress signs you out of comments once you post? Gotta fix that at least

    • RetroRob

      How do you even sign into WordPress in the first place?

  8. Chip

    Tons of empty seats for Yankees vs. Boston on a gorgeous Friday night?

    Nah, baseball doesn’t have a problem at all.

    • Fatrexhadswag

      It’s hard getting to the stadium by 7, it’s a sell out

    • Fatrexhadswag

      Not ideal! Sale didn’t throw one fastball that inning

  9. RetroRob

    Hoping for a 1-0 Yankee win, with the run being unearned. I have Sale on my fantasy team. Never mind. Yankees first. Blow the bastard out!

    • Chip

      Hiya Rob.

      Agreed, just light Sale up.

      • Val - Sonny Gray The Goat

        Chip Still being negative and flip-flopping. Classic Chip. Slack is better off.

        • Chip

          “Agreed, light Sale up” is negative? Is there a reason you feel the need to harass me?

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