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Game 124: Home Field Disadvantage

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They need the rally pigeon back. (Al Bello/Getty)
They need the rally pigeon back. (Al Bello/Getty)

That weekend series against the Indians was pretty rough. One win in four tries and two of the losses were one-run losses. Blah. The Yankees have been much better at home (36-24, +52 run differential) than on the road (32-31, +15 run differential) overall this year, but not this month. They’ve won one six of 13 home games this month. That ain’t gonna cut it. The Yankees need to clean up at home the rest of the way.

The Astros, who are in the Bronx for a three-game series this week, are another team with a drastic home/road split. They’re 45-21 with a +71 run differential at home but only 24-35 with a +11 run differential on the road. This series is in Yankee Stadium and the Yankees are great at home while the Astros stink on the road. What could go wrong? Here is Houston’s lineup and here is New York’s lineup:

  1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
  2. LF Brett Gardner
  3. DH Alex Rodriguez
  4. C Brian McCann
  5. RF Carlos Beltran
  6. 1B Greg Bird
  7. 3B Chase Headley
  8. SS Didi Gregorius
  9. 2B Stephen Drew
    RHP Nathan Eovaldi

Pretty nice night for a ballgame in the Bronx. It’s a little cloudy out and there is a tiny little chance of rain, but nothing serious. I’m not worried about it. Tonight’s game is scheduled to begin just after 7pm ET and you can watch on WPIX locally and MLB Network nationally. Try to enjoy.

Injury Update: Mark Teixeira (leg) said he thinks he could pinch-hit today, but running is still an issue. He took batting practice right-handed today and the Yankees will face the lefty Dallas Keuchel tomorrow, which probably isn’t a coincidence … Dustin Ackley (back) also took batting practice today. He could begin a minor league rehab assignment later this week.

Roster Update: In case you missed it earlier, CC Sabathia was placed on the 15-day DL and Chris Capuano was brought back.

Game 121: Three-Fourths

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Tonight marks the three-quarters point of the season. Well, kinda. I guess the true three-quarters point would be the middle of the fifth inning of tomorrow’s game, but 121 games is close enough for me. The days are starting to get a little shorter, there weather was crisp this morning … it’s starting to feel a little bit like fall, which means time is running out on the 2015 season. These next few weeks should be pretty intense.

The Yankees dropped last night’s series opener against the Indians and, until that ninth inning rally, it was the most nondescript game of the year. Nothing interesting happened whatsoever. What can you do. Can’t win ’em all. The Yankees have still won six of their last eight games and that’s a pretty good pace. I’ll take more of that going forward. Here is the Cleveland lineup and here is the New York lineup:

  1. CF Brett Gardner
  2. 3B Chase Headley
  3. DH Alex Rodriguez
  4. C Brian McCann
  5. RF Carlos Beltran
  6. 1B Greg Bird
  7. LF Chris Young
  8. 2B Stephen Drew
  9. SS Brendan Ryan
    RHP Masahiro Tanaka

Very nice day in New York today. Blue sky, nice breeze, and a few clouds. Good day for a game. Tonight’s contest will begin just after 7pm ET and you can watch on YES. Enjoy the game.

Injury Updates: Mark Teixeira (leg) is getting better but is unlikely to play this weekend … Bryan Mitchell (face) played catch today … Dustin Ackley (back) went through fielding drills and could begin a minor league rehab assignment next week … Jacoby Ellsbury and Didi Gregorius are fine. Just getting the night off during this long stretch of games.

Game 119: Finish the Sweep

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(Elsa/Getty)
(Elsa/Getty)

The Twins always seem to cure whatever ails the Yankees, don’t they? The offense was sputtering, then the Yankees scored eight runs in back-to-back games. The bullpen was short, then CC Sabathia recorded an out in the seventh inning for the first time in a month and a half and only the second time in three months. A-Rod slumping? Grand slam. The Twinkies are always good for a pick-me-up.

The three-game series with Minnesota ends this afternoon and the Yankees are going for the three-game sweep, allowing them to stay atop the AL East. It seems like the only team capable of putting up a fight against the Blue Jays is the Yankees, isn’t it? New York has won five of its last six games. Time to make is six of seven. Here is the Twins’ lineup and here is the Yankees’ lineup:

  1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
  2. LF Brett Gardner
  3. DH Alex Rodriguez
  4. RF Carlos Beltran
  5. 1B Greg Bird
  6. 3B Chase Headley
  7. SS Didi Gregorius
  8. 2B Stephen Drew
  9. C John Ryan Murphy
    RHP Nathan Eovaldi

It’s a little cloudy in New York and there’s a slight chance of rain for most of the afternoon. Not a major storm or anything, but possibly some showers on and off. Hopefully nothing that interrupts the game. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05pm ET and you can watch on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. Enjoy the game.

Injury Updates: Michael Pineda (forearm) threw his bullpen today with no issues and will make another minor league rehab start Friday … Mark Teixeira (leg) is still really sore and is not even available to pinch-hit. The good news is the Yankees still don’t consider this a DL issue and he remains day-to-day … Dustin Ackley (back) hit off a tee yesterday and will take more swings today.

Game 118: Shorthanded

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(Al Bello/Getty)
(Al Bello/Getty)

Boy, the Yankees are really shorthanded today. Mark Teixeira’s injury leaves them with a three-man bench and the recent reliever workloads has them going into tonight’s game with maybe half a bullpen. If there was ever a night to score 20 runs, this would be it.

Anyway, the Yankees have quietly won four of their last five games, and two of those wins involved dramatic comebacks. Those are always fun. If you believe in momentum being a factor in sports, the Yankees certainly have it on their side. They have momentum but not a fully available roster. Here is the Twins’ lineup and here is the Yankees’ lineup:

  1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
  2. LF Brett Gardner
  3. DH Alex Rodriguez
  4. C Brian McCann
  5. RF Carlos Beltran
  6. 1B Greg Bird
  7. SS Didi Gregorius
  8. 2B Stephen Drew
  9. 3B Brendan Ryan
    LHP CC Sabathia

It’s a nice night for a day in New York. Clear sky, no threat of rain, and not as hot as yesterday either. This’ll do. Tonight’s game is set to begin at 7:05pm ET and you can watch on YES. Enjoy the game.

Injury Updates: Teixeira (leg) went for more tests today and has a bad bone bruise. The good news is there is no break. It’s unclear how long he will be sidelined. Teixeira is arguably the team’s most indispensable player. Can’t replace his two-way impact … Chase Headley is out of the lineup because he “could use a day,” said Joe Girardi. Headley’s played more innings in the field than anyone else on the team this year … Dustin Ackley (back) has started baseball activities. Nothing major (he played catch) but it’s a start.

Schedule Update: The start time of the Yankees-Blue Jays game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, September 12th has been moved up from 4pm ET to 1pm ET, MLB announced. I guess FOX flexed them into their timeslot.

Game 114: Payback

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(Presswire)
(Presswire)

This is a Big Series. The Blue Jays came to Yankees Stadium last week and straight up embarrassed the Yankees. They didn’t just sweep them, they held them to one run total in three games and outplayed them in every phase of the game. It was brutal. The scene now shifts to Rogers Centre and the Yankees are looking for payback. Or at least a win. Maybe some runs. Those have been hard to come by of late.

Ivan Nova is on the mound tonight and he held his own against this powerful Blue Jays lineup last weekend, at least until Joe Girardi left him in a little too long, leading to a Justin Smoak grand slam. Hopefully Girardi won’t ignore any obvious signs of fatigue tonight, like throwing eleven balls in the span of 14 pitches. (I’m over it, I swear.) Ugly, pretty, who cares. Just win, baby. Here is Toronto’s lineup and here is New York’s lineup:

  1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
  2. LF Brett Gardner
  3. DH Alex Rodriguez
  4. 1B Mark Teixeira
  5. C Brian McCann
  6. 3B Chase Headley
  7. RF Chris Young
  8. SS Didi Gregorius
  9. 2B Brendan Ryan
    RHP Ivan Nova

It has been raining in Toronto for much of the afternoon, so assume the Rogers Centre roof will be closed. Tonight’s game is scheduled to begin at 7:07pm ET and you can watch on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. Enjoy the game.

Injury Update: Dustin Ackley (back) is rehabbing and feeling better, but he’s yet to start baseball activities, so his return is not imminent.

Yankees place Dustin Ackley on 15-day DL; Mason Williams to have shoulder surgery

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Williams. (Presswire)
Williams. (Presswire)

The Yankees have placed utility man Dustin Ackley on the 15-day DL with a right lumbar strain, the team announced. Also, Brian Cashman told reporters Mason Williams will have shoulder surgery on August 7th, effectively ending his season. Blah.

Cashman said an MRI showed a herniated disc in Ackley’s back. He received an epidural and will be out 20-30 days. The Yankees are hoping Ackley can avoid surgery, which would end his season. The injury happened at some point after the trade. “He was a hot potato without realizing he was hot. The hot potato fell on our lap,” said the GM.

Ackley, 27, has never had any sort of back trouble before and this is the first time he’s ever been on the DL. He’s gone 0-for-3 at the plate since being acquired from the Mariners for Ramon Flores and Jose Ramirez last week. Ackley replaced Garrett Jones as the team’s fifth outfielder/backup first baseman.

Williams, meanwhile, has been out since mid-June with a right shoulder injury. He hurt himself diving back into first base on a pickoff play. Williams has been rehabbing his shoulder since the injury and has dealt with some setbacks, but the Yankees were optimistic he would avoid surgery. It won’t happen. That stinks.

The Yankees activated Slade Heathcott off the 60-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A on Friday, so he can’t be recalled until next Monday because of the ten-day rule. Rob Refsnyder, Tyler Austin, Jose Pirela, and Cole Figueroa are all on the 40-man and waiting in Triple-A. I wonder if the Yankees will just stick with a three-man bench and an eight-man bullpen for the time being.

Yankees designate Garrett Jones for assignment

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(Jeff Zelevansky/Getty)
(Jeff Zelevansky/Getty)

Earlier today, the Yankees designated first baseman/outfielder Garrett Jones for assignment, the team announced. The move clears a roster spot for the recent acquired Dustin Ackley. Joe Girardi confirmed Ackley will fill the same role as Jones: seldom-used backup outfielder and backup first baseman, plus he’ll take some grounders at second.

Jones, 34, hit .215/.257/.361 (67 wRC+) with five homers in only 152 plate appearances this season. He had a brutal start to the season — 6-for-40 (.150) in the team’s first 41 games — but kinda sorta picked it up of late, hitting .240/.288/.413 (92 wRC+) in his last 111 plate appearances. Jones did hit one huge home run this season, so thanks for that.

The Yankees acquired Jones in the Nathan Eovaldi-Martin Prado trade this past offseason and still owe him the rest of his $5M salary, which is a relative drop in the bucket. Brian Cashman explained they replaced Jones with Ackley because Ackley is younger, more versatile, and under team control beyond this season.