Preview: Royals at Yankees
Gracenote
Jul 27, 2018
The New York Yankees believe they have picked up two important stretch-run pieces this week, but they have to hope the two roster spots the new arrivals claim won't be those of the players they lost to injury on Thursday. While the Yankees figure out what to do with Aaron Judge and Sonny Gray, they'll try to string together consecutive wins for the first time in over two weeks when they host the Kansas City Royals on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series.
Judge was hit on the right wrist by a pitch in the first inning of Thursday's 7-2 victory over Kansas City, and while he remained in the game for three more frames, he eventually was sent to the hospital, where it was learned he suffered a chip fracture and won't be able to swing a bat in game situations for three weeks. Gray was hurt shortly thereafter, leaving after five innings when he took a comebacker off his right hand, putting another damper on the Yankees' deals that landed J.A. Happ from Toronto earlier in the day and Zach Britton from Baltimore on Tuesday. New York's uneven play of late is another concern, as the club finds itself 4 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East in part because it hasn't won two in a row since July 11 and 12. After beginning the second half of the season with a three-game sweep of Minnesota, Kansas City (31-71) has dropped three of four and hopes to avoid being overtaken by the Orioles (29-74), who own the worst record in the major leagues.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Brad Keller (3-4, 3.20 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (6-4, 3.51)
Keller notched his first victory in nearly a month Sunday against Minnesota, permitting three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out a season-high eight in seven-plus innings. The 22-year-old has been particularly good at keeping the ball in the park during his rookie campaign, giving up only one homer in nine turns and two in 30 overall appearances. Keller, who has gone 0-3 in four road starts, threw a perfect inning in relief on May 18 in his only career appearance against the Yankees.
Sabathia received an injection in his arthritic right knee over the All-Star break and had his previously scheduled start on Sunday rained out, so he will be taking the mound for the first time in 13 days. The former Cy Young Award winner settled for a no-decision in that July 14 outing at Cleveland, allowing four runs over 5 2/3 innings. Whit Merrifield (4-for-8) is one of the few Royals to have success against Sabathia, who is 21-12 with a 3.15 ERA in 40 career starts versus Kansas City.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees 3B Miguel Andujar is batting .500 in six games since the All-Star break.
2. After hitting .158 with two homers and four RBIs in June, Kansas City All-Star C Salvador Perez is batting .273 with five blasts and 17 RBIs this month.
3. New York acquired Happ for INF Brandon Drury and OF Billy McKinney on Thursday afternoon.
PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Royals 2
Gracenote
Jul 27, 2018
The New York Yankees believe they have picked up two important stretch-run pieces this week, but they have to hope the two roster spots the new arrivals claim won't be those of the players they lost to injury on Thursday. While the Yankees figure out what to do with Aaron Judge and Sonny Gray, they'll try to string together consecutive wins for the first time in over two weeks when they host the Kansas City Royals on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series.
Judge was hit on the right wrist by a pitch in the first inning of Thursday's 7-2 victory over Kansas City, and while he remained in the game for three more frames, he eventually was sent to the hospital, where it was learned he suffered a chip fracture and won't be able to swing a bat in game situations for three weeks. Gray was hurt shortly thereafter, leaving after five innings when he took a comebacker off his right hand, putting another damper on the Yankees' deals that landed J.A. Happ from Toronto earlier in the day and Zach Britton from Baltimore on Tuesday. New York's uneven play of late is another concern, as the club finds itself 4 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East in part because it hasn't won two in a row since July 11 and 12. After beginning the second half of the season with a three-game sweep of Minnesota, Kansas City (31-71) has dropped three of four and hopes to avoid being overtaken by the Orioles (29-74), who own the worst record in the major leagues.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Brad Keller (3-4, 3.20 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (6-4, 3.51)
Keller notched his first victory in nearly a month Sunday against Minnesota, permitting three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out a season-high eight in seven-plus innings. The 22-year-old has been particularly good at keeping the ball in the park during his rookie campaign, giving up only one homer in nine turns and two in 30 overall appearances. Keller, who has gone 0-3 in four road starts, threw a perfect inning in relief on May 18 in his only career appearance against the Yankees.
Sabathia received an injection in his arthritic right knee over the All-Star break and had his previously scheduled start on Sunday rained out, so he will be taking the mound for the first time in 13 days. The former Cy Young Award winner settled for a no-decision in that July 14 outing at Cleveland, allowing four runs over 5 2/3 innings. Whit Merrifield (4-for-8) is one of the few Royals to have success against Sabathia, who is 21-12 with a 3.15 ERA in 40 career starts versus Kansas City.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees 3B Miguel Andujar is batting .500 in six games since the All-Star break.
2. After hitting .158 with two homers and four RBIs in June, Kansas City All-Star C Salvador Perez is batting .273 with five blasts and 17 RBIs this month.
3. New York acquired Happ for INF Brandon Drury and OF Billy McKinney on Thursday afternoon.
PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Royals 2