NEW YORK YANKEES NOTES:
AT A GLANCE: The Yankees will begin their seven-game road trip today with a doubleheader at Boston after being rained out on Monday…after this four-game set at Boston (through Thurs.), will travel to Pittsburgh this weekend for a three-game series (Fri-Sun.)…went 3-3 on their recent homestand vs. Detroit (2-1) and Milwaukee (1-2). Snapped their three-game losing streak on Sunday… are 9-4 in their last 13 games (since 8/28) and 11-7 in their last 18 games (since 8/23). Four of the Yankees’ last five wins have been comeback wins. Have won six of their last seven road games (since 8/28).
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: The Yankees recorded their sixth “walk-off” win of the season with a 4-3 win over the Brewers in 13 innings on Sunday at Yankee Stadium…RHP Gerrit Cole (7.0IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 9K, 1WP) allowed just three baserunners over 7.0 scoreless innings…3B Oswaldo Cabrera (1-for-5, 1 double, 1RBI) recorded the Yankees’ first hit of the game with a game-tying RBI double in the 11th inning…DH Giancarlo Stanton (1-for-3, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI, 2BB) hit his 23rd home run of the season with a gametying two-run HR in the 12th inning…C Kyle Higashioka (1-for-2, 1 double, 1RBI) hit a “walk-off” double in the 13th inning, his first career “walk-off” hit…Yankees relievers allowed 3R/1ER in 6.0 innings of relief.
LET’S PLAY TWO: The Yankees will play their fourth doubleheader of the season today (also 6/8 vs. Chicago-AL, 6/18 at Boston and 7/1 at St. Louis)…have won (six) or split (nine) 15 of their 20 doubleheaders since the start of 2020.
FOR STARTERS: Yankees starters have posted a 2.76 ERA (107.2IP, 33ER) in their last 20 games (since 8/20)…have allowed 3ER-or-fewer in 18 of those 20 starts and 2ER-orfewer in 16 of those starts.
GOT YOUR NUMBER: DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton has hit .357/.419/.714 (10-for-28) with 1 double, 3HR and 3BB in his career against Boston’s RHP Nick Pivetta…OF Aaron Judge has hit .333/.500/.733 (5-for-15) with 2HR and 5BB against Pivetta.
MATCHING UP: LHP Carlos Rodón has posted a 3.60 ERA (30.0IP, 12ER) in five career starts vs. the Red Sox…has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in four of those starts…in two career starts at Fenway Park, has posted a 2.84 ERA (12.2IP, 4ER).
BATTERS’ EYE: Since the All-Star break, the Yankees lead the Majors with a 9.39 PA/BB ratio and a 4.03 pitches per plate appearance ratio…prior to the All-Star break, ranked 20th in the Majors in both categories (11.90 PA/BB and 3.86 P/PA).
TODAY’S GAME 1 STARTING PITCHER: RHP RANDY VÁSQUEZ (2-2, 2.36 ERA)
RHP Randy Vásquez will make his fifth career start (eighth appearance) in Game 1 of today’s doubleheader at Boston…last pitched on Thursday vs. Detroit, tossing 2.1 innings of relief (3H, 1ER, 2BB, 5K, 1HR, 1WP)…is in his fifth stint with the club (5/26, 6/8-G2, 7/5, 8/11-17 and 9/1-present)…has made seven appearances (four starts) this season for the Yankees, going 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA (26.2IP, 18H, 7ER, 13BB, 22K, 4HR)…as a starter for the Yankees, has gone 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA (18.2IP, 4ER) in four starts…in 17 starts with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, went 3-8 with a 4.59 ERA (80.1IP, 78H, 45R/41ER, 40BB, 96K, 10HR)…spent the 2022 season with Double-A Somerset, going 2-7 with a 3.90 ERA (115.1IP, 106H, 56R/50ER, 41BB, 120K, 11HR) in 25 starts…following the season, was tabbed by Baseball America as the Yankees’ No. 9 prospect and labeled as having the “Best Curveball” among Yankees farmhands…was added to the Yankees 40-man roster on 3/22/22…was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on 5/21/18.
LAST TIME OUT: Made his third career relief appearance on Thursday vs. Detroit, allowing 1ER over 2.1IP (3H, 2BB, 5K, 1HR, 1WP)…surrendered a two-run HR to Spencer Torkelson in the fourth inning and allowed his inherited runner to score…his 5K marked his most strikeouts in a game since recording 6K in his Major League debut on 5/26 vs. San Diego.
2023: Has made seven appearances (four starts) this season for the Yankees, going 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA (26.2IP, 18H, 7ER, 13BB, 22K, 4HR)…has held opponents to a .186 BA (18-for-97) this season.
FOR STARTERS: As a starter for the Yankees, has gone 1-2 with a 1.93 ERA (18.2IP, 4ER) in four starts…has tossed at least 5.0 scoreless innings in two of his four starts (5.2IP and 0R on 6/8-G2 vs. Chicago-AL and 5.0IP and 0R on 7/5 vs. Baltimore). Last started for the Yankees on 8/16 at Atlanta and recorded the loss after allowing 2ER in 3.1IP (2H, 3BB, 3K, 1HR). Tossed 5.0 scoreless innings without recording a decision in his third start of the season on 7/5 vs. Baltimore, (3H, 3BB, 1K). Earned his first career win on 6/8-G2 vs. Chicago-AL after tossing 5.2 scoreless innings (2H, 1BB, 3K, 1HP). Made his Major League debut on 5/26 vs. San Diego, taking the loss after allowing just 2ER in 4.2IP (4H, 3BB, 6K, 1HR, 2HP).
WHAT A RELIEF: Has made three relief appearances for the Yankees this season, going 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA (8.0IP, 3ER) and 9K. Made his third career relief appearance on Thursday vs. Detroit, allowing 1ER over 2.1IP (3H, 2BB, 5K, 1HR, 1WP). On 9/1 at Houston, tossed 2.0 scoreless innings (1H, 2K, 1HP). Made his first career relief appearance on 8/11 at Miami and earned his second win of the season (3.2IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 2K, 1HR).
ON THE ROAD: Will make his fourth career Major League road appearance today…has gone 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA (9.0IP, 4ER) in three appearances (two starts) on the road this year.
TONIGHT’S GAME 2 STARTING PITCHER: LHP CARLOS RODÓN (2-5, 6.60 ERA)
LHP Carlos Rodón will make his 11th start of the season in Game 2 tonight at Boston…the 30-year-old will make the start on regular four days’ rest…last pitched on Thursday vs. Detroit, recording the loss after allowing a season-high 7R/ER in 3.2IP (8H, 0BB, 4K, 1HR, 1WP)…is 2-5 with a 6.60 ERA (46.1IP, 44H, 34ER, 21BB, 41K, 12HR) in 10 starts this season…needs 12 more strikeouts to reach 1,000K in his career…if he records 12K tonight, would be just the 17th active left-handed pitcher to reach the 1,000K plateau…finished sixth in the NL Cy Young voting in 2022 after going 14-8 with one complete game and a 2.88 ERA (178.0IP, 131H, 59R/57ER, 52BB, 237K, 12HR) over 31 starts with the San Francisco Giants…the two-time All-Star (2021 with Chicago-AL and 2022 with San Francisco) has finished in the top-six of Cy Young voting twice (fifth in 2021 and sixth in 2022)…over the previous two seasons (2021-22), went 27-13 with two complete games and a 2.67 ERA (310.2IP, 222H, 98R/92ER, 88BB, 422K, 25HR) in 55 starts…over that span, led the Majors in K/9.0IP (12.23) and opponents’ SLG (.307), ranked second in opponents’ BA (.196) and opponents’ OPS (.567), third in WAR among pitchers (11.1, FanGraphs), fourth in ERA (2.67), opponents’ OBP (.259) and double-digit strikeout games (16), fifth in HR/9.0IP (0.72), tied for sixth in wins and seventh in strikeouts…was originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 16th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft but did not sign and went on to play three seasons at North Carolina State University (2012-14)…was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (third overall) of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft…signed a six-year Major League contract with the Yankees extending through the 2028 season on 12/21/22.
LAST TIME OUT: Made his 10th start of the season on Thursday vs. Detroit, recording the loss after allowing a season-high 7R/ER in 3.2IP (8H, 0BB, 4K, 1HR, 1WP)…marked his most runs allowed in a game since his 8R/ER on 5/15/22 at St. Louis with San Francisco.
VS. BOSTON: In five career starts vs. the Red Sox (all with the White Sox), is 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA (30.0IP, 27H, 15R/12ER, 7BB, 35K, 7HR)…has allowed 3ER-or-fewer in four of those starts. In two career starts at Fenway Park, is 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA (12.2IP, 12H, 6R/4ER, 2BB, 18K, 3HR).
2023: Is 2-5 with a 6.60 ERA (46.1IP, 44H, 34ER, 21BB, 41K, 12HR) in 10 starts this season…has allowed 4H-or-fewer in eight of his 10 starts. Began the year on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to 3/27) with a left forearm strain and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on 6/1…missed 88 team games. Made his Yankees debut on 7/7 vs. Chicago-NL at Yankee Stadium, recording the loss despite allowing 2ER in 5.1IP (4H, 2BB, 2K, 1HR, 1WP)…was returned from rehab and reinstated from the 60-day injured list prior to the game. Earned his first win as a Yankee on 7/26 vs. the Mets after allowing just 1ER over 5.2IP (4H, 3BB, 4K, 0HR, 1HP). Tossed a season-high 6.0IP on 8/22 vs. Washington…was reinstated from the 15-day injured list prior to the game…missed 12 team games from 8/7-22 with a left hamstring strain.
ROAD RULES: Will be making his fifth road start this season…is 1-2 with a 6.63 ERA (19.0IP, 14ER) in those four starts. Went 6-6 with one complete game and a 3.73 ERA (94.0IP, 70H, 40R/39ER, 26BB, 116K, 7HR) in 16 starts on the road in 2022 with San Francisco…opponents batted .204/.263/.315 (70-for-343). Allowed 2R-or-fewer in 10 road starts in 2022, 1R-or-fewer in seven starts and two starts were scoreless. His .315 opponents’ SLG on the road last season was the sixth-lowest mark in the Majors and his .204 opponents’ batting average was the eighth-lowest.
BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox snapped a 4-game losing streak on Sunday vs. BAL…They’re 4-4 in their last 8 games. The Sox are 15-15 in their last 30 games since 8/9. At 73-70 (.510), Boston is tied with the San Francisco Giants for MLB’s 15th-best record.
LET’S PLAY TWO: The Red Sox today will play their 3rd doubleheader of the season, all at Fenway Park…They went 2-0 vs. NYY on 6/18 and 1-1 vs. TB on 6/3. 6/18 marked the Sox’ 1st doubleheader sweep at Fenway Park since 6/18/2013 vs. TB and their 1st at home vs. NYY since 7/31/1976.
SOX & YANKS: At 8-1 with 4 games remaining, the Red Sox have secured a season series win over the Yankees. The Sox have a +30 run differential (54-24) and a 2.33 ERA (21 ER/81.0 IP) against the Yankees this season… They have held NYY to 3 runs or fewer in 7 of 9 games. The Red Sox have won each of their last 7 games vs. NYY, their longest streak since winning 8 in a row from 9/20/2020-7/16/2021. Boston’s only single-season winning streaks of 8+ games vs. NYY came in 2009 (8 G) and 1912 (14 G).
HOME COOKING: The Red Sox are currently on a 7-game homestand vs. BAL (3 games) and NYY (4). The Sox are 7-12 in 19 home games since the start of August, after going 13-5 in their previous 18. At home, the Red Sox lead the majors in AVG (.284)… They also rank 2nd in OBP (.349), 3rd in OPS (.811), and 4th in SLG (.462).
EASTERN STANDARD: The Sox are in a stretch of 13 straight games against AL East teams, facing each divisional opponent over the span (3 at TB, 3 vs. BAL, 4 vs. NYY, 3 at TOR). 13 of the Sox’ 19 remaining games will be against AL East opponents (BAL-4, NYY-4, TOR-3, TB-2). The Red Sox are 21-18 against AL East teams this
season (6-6-0 in series), after going 26-50 in 2022 (6-17-1 in series).
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: The Red Sox on Sunday finished a stretch of back-to-back series against the 2 teams with the best records in the AL: TB (2nd, 89-56) and BAL (1st, 91-52). 12 of the Sox’ remaining 19 games will be against teams that currently have record of .500 or better (BAL-4, TEX-3, TOR-3, TB-2). BOS is 38-43 against teams with a current record of .500 or better, and 35-27 against teams below .500.
ON THE MEND: Pablo Reyes and Corey Kluber are on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester. Kluber is scheduled to start tonight vs. Syracuse at 6:45 p.m…He made his 1st rehab start Saturday at Gwinnett, retiring all 3 batters he faced (1.0 IP, SO, 13 pitches). Reyes has played in 3 games with the WooSox, making 2 starts at 2nd base and 1 as the DH (2-for-11, 2 R, SB).
THE INCREDIBLE HOUCK: Tanner Houck is the Red Sox’ nominee for the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions both on and off the field. This is Houck’s 1st time being nominated for the award… He will be honored in pregame ceremonies on Fri, 9/22, celebrating the 21st annual Roberto Clemente Day.
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: The Red Sox defeated the Orioles in Sunday’s series finale, 7-3. Brayan Bello earned his team-leading 12th win. Three Sox relievers combined to throw 4.0 scoreless, hitless innings: Josh Winckowski (1.0 IP, 3 SO), Garrett Whitlock (2.0 IP, BB, 3 SO), Nick Robertson (1.0 IP, SO).
COMEBACK KIDS: Sunday was the Red Sox’ 38th come-from-behind win this season, 2nd most in the AL behind BAL (45) and 5th most in MLB. The Sox have come from behind in each of their last 2 wins and 4 of their last 7.
TRISTON TIME: Triston Casas hit a 3-run HR in the 6th inning Sunday vs. BAL to extend the Red Sox’ lead to 7-3. In 50 games since the All-Star break, Casas has slashed .319/.418/.639/1.057 with 15 HR and 37 RBI. During that span, Casas ranks in the AL’s top 5 in SLG (3rd), OPS (3rd), HR (T-4th), and OBP (5th).
PICK YOUR POISON: Three Red Sox players rank in the AL’s top 10 in OPS, more than any other team…They also have 3 representatives in the AL’s top 15 in AVG and BP.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Red Sox lead MLB in doubles (312)… Among AL teams, they rank 2nd in AVG (.264) and XBH (499), 3rd in SLG (.437), 4th in OPS (.766), and 5th in OBP (.329).
SCORING IN BUNCHES: The Red Sox have scored multiple runs in an inning at least once in 24 of their last 26 games (44 multi-run innings over that span). The Sox have scored multiple runs in 7 of their 17 offensive innings over the last 2 games.
SLUGGING SOX: The Sox have homered in 26 of their last 28 games and 34 of their 37 games since the start of August. Red Sox rookies have hit 45 HR this season, 2nd most in club history behind 1987 (67 HR)…The only teams with more HR by rookies in 2023 are CIN (54) and OAK (48).
LOCK IT DOWN: Boston owns MLB’s best record when leading after 6 innings (57-3, .950)…In 2022, they ranked 18th in MLB when leading after 6 (63-10, .863). The Sox lead MLB in save % (75.5; 40-for-53), after ranking 24th last season (57.4; 39-for-68).
MARTY PARTY: Chris Martin has allowed only 1 run in his last 32 outings since 6/9 (28.2 IP)…He leads MLB with a 0.31 ERA in that span (min. 20.0 IP). He has not allowed a run over his last 14.0 IP, the 3rdlongest active scoreless streak among relievers and 3.1 innings shy of his career-long 17.1 IP (9/4/22-4/9/23). Overall, his 1.17 ERA (6 ER/46.1 IP) ranks 2nd in MLB (min. 40.0 IP) behind TB’s Shawn Armstrong (0.81).
GAME 1 STARTER: 37 NICK PIVETTA – RHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 9-8 4.54 34 12 117.0 59 22 47 150 1.23 .220
CAREER 49-58 4.95 192 148 858.0 472 146 338 934 1.37 .255
Started on Wednesday at TB…Allowed 3 runs over 4.2 IP (7 H, 2 BB, 5 SO, 2 HR). Leads BOS in strikeouts (150) and ranks 2nd in innings pitched (117.0). Has recorded a 5.97 ERA since 8/1 (15 ER/28.2 IP), after posting a 1.88 ERA in his previous 16 outings from 5/28-7/31 (9 ER/43.0 IP). Owns a 1.86 ERA (2 ER/9.2 IP) over 4 relief appearances this season against NYY. Has recorded a career-high strikeout rate of 30.4%…Since 6/18, has struck out 34.3% of batters faced (63.2 IP, 94 SO, 21 BB, 254 BF). Among the 134 pitchers with 60.0+ IP since 5/28, Pivetta ranks 2nd in strikeout rate (35.3%), 3rd in opponent AVG (.188), and 4th in SO/BB (25.6%).
GAME 2 STARTER: 50 KUTTER CRAWFORD – RHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 6-7 4.36 27 19 107.1 52 16 30 107 1.16 .233
CAREER 9-14 5.01 49 32 186.2 104 29 61 186 1.30 .252
Allowed 5 runs in 3.2 IP Tuesday at TB (3 H, 4 BB, 5 SO)…Threw a career-high 96 pitches. Is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA (4 ER/19.0 IP) in 5 career games (3 starts) vs. NYY)…Allowed 1 hit (solo HR) over a season-high-tying 6.0 innings on 8/17 at Yankee Stadium. On the road, is 6-3 with a 2.69 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and .194 opponent AVG…At home, is 0-4 with a 6.51 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and .277 opponent AVG. Ranks in MLB’s 75th percentile or higher in chase rate (83rd), fastball spin (91st), and expected opponent average (79th). Opponents are hitting .183 AVG (24-for-131, 11 XBH) with 51 SO against his 4-seam fastball. Has walked 2 or fewer batters in 16 of this 19 starts…Has struck out at least 5 batters in 12 of his 19 starts this season.
