Series Preview: Red Sox at Yankees (4/27-4/29)
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by user Tylersalt
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After being swept by Boston (14-7, 1st in AL East) at Fenway Park last weekend, the New York Yankees (8-12, 5th in AL East) have been in a tailspin, losing all three games they've played since leaving Massachusetts. They managed only four hits against A.J. Burnett on Thursday, spoiling a decent debut from uberprospect Philip Hughes. The very fact that Hughes is up in the majors should give you an idea as to how desperate the Yankees have gotten with their pitching situation. They got ace Chien-Ming Wang back from injury this week, and he will start the 3rd game this weekend against the Red Sox, but he did not show he could be effective in his first start of the year against Tampa Bay. Supporters of both teams are quick to remind us "it's only April," downplaying Boston's hot start and New York's slow one, but the fact is games in April count just as much as games in September, so the Yankees need to take at least 2 from the Red Sox this weekend. If they were to get swept again, they will have lost 9 straight and be 8.5 back in the East to begin May -- not a good place to be in any part of the season. The Red Sox will be throwing the second half of their rotation, so that's good news for the Bronx Bombers, but their bullpen is going to need to step up if they want any shot here.
Game 1
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Daisuke Matsuzaka probably pitched one of the best looking 6-run outings I've ever seen against the Yankees last Sunday, and was able to pick up the win thanks to the offense against Scott Proctor. Dice-K pitched 7.0 innings, allowed 8 hits, one walk, and struck out 7. He also drilled Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez each in the shoulder. A-Rod could not get it going against Matsuzaka, striking out twice after being hit. Jeter was hit by a pitch again on Tuesday by Scott Kazmir, and had to leave the game. It is unknown at this time whether he is available to play on Friday.
Andy Pettitte, ironically, has been the Yankees' most reliable arm out of the 'pen so far this season. He's made two relief appearances to go along with four starts, basically amounting to in-game side sessions, not allowing a hit from the bullpen. Pettitte pitched very well against the Red Sox last Friday, scattering 8 hits for two runs in 6 1/3 innings for a no-decision. He's only allowed 5 earned runs all year, but only has one win to show for it given the rough state of the relief pitching in the Bronx.
Top Performers: Jason Giambi knocked in three runs on two hits against Matsuzaka last weekend. J.D. Drew went 3-3 against Pettitte in that game as well, and Jason Varitek hit a 2-run homer off of him.
Game 2
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Tim Wakefield got hit around earlier this week by the Toronto Blue Jays, but other than that he has been nothing short of phenomenal for the Red Sox in the early going this season. His last start was the first time this season he's given up more than 1 earned run. He has not fared all that well against the Yankees in his career, carrying a 7-13 record in 42 appearances, 25 starts. Yankees fans are quick to remind him of Aaron "Bleeping" Boone's home run to end the 2003 ALCS, but it's safe to say that Wakefield has long since moved on. He went 1-1 in three starts against New York last season.
Jeff Karstens was as bad in his last start against Boston as Wakefield has been good this season. He allowed 7 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks with only 1 strikeout in 4 1/3 innings. Karstens will hope for the home crowd's support in trying to get back on track, but if he starts to pitch anything like he did last Saturday, he'll hear more Bronx Cheers than anything else.
Top Performers: If he can play, it would behoove Joe Torre to get Jeter in the lineup for this game -- he's a career .321 hitter off of Wakefield with 3 HR's and 8 RBI. David Ortiz did most of the damage against Karstens last weekend, going 2-3 with 4 RBI and a homer.
Game 3
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I think I speak for the entirety of Red Sox nation when I ask, "When is Jon Lester going to be back?" Julian Tavarez has done an admirable job at best in the fifth starter's role, but he has struggled. His career numbers against the Yankees are not very good either, as they've hit at a .353 clip against him, scoring 21 runs in 28 innings. Tavarez has to limit the damage and hand the ball off to the bullpen, which has been dominant thus far.
Mean spirited Sox fans can no longer make Wang-Big Unit cracks with the latter's departure, but Wang's pitching ability is no joke. He tied for the AL lead in wins last year, and induces ground balls like they're going out of style. The Red Sox have managed fairly well against him, hitting .309 in his 7 appearances (6 starts) against Boston. Wang strained his hamstring in spring training, and did not show that he had his Cy-Young contending form from a year ago this past week. We'll have to wait and see on him.
Top Performers: Bobby Abreu has 9 hits in 24 at-bats against Tavarez, 3 of them homers. Eric Hinske figures to get a start on Sunday, as he's had a ridiculous 10 hits in 16 at-bats against Wang, with 2 homers and no strikeouts.
