New York Yankees Look To Whitewash the Chicago White Sox in Big Series
August 28, 2009 · Jordan Schwartz · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
After losing their first series since Aug. 1, the Yankees (79-48) look to regroup this weekend against another possible playoff opponent—the Chicago White Sox (64-64).
Incidentally, Ozzie Guillen’s group was the last team to beat New York in a series, until Texas won two of three from the Bombers this week, when the Sox took three of four in Chicago.
But this weekend’s three-game set is in the Bronx, where the White Sox haven’t visited since dropping three of four last September.
Let’s take a look at the pitching match-ups.
Friday, August 28—CC Sabathia (15-7, 3.59) vs. Mark Buehrle (11-7, 3.92)
Sabathia probably wishes August had 62 days. The big lefty improved to 11-0 in the month since 2007 when he won his Major League best 15th game at Fenway Park on Sunday.
CC has won five straight starts, dating back to Aug. 2, when he helped the Yanks beat the White Sox, 8-5. Sabathia didn’t pitch particularly well in that game, however, allowing five runs on 10 hits, while striking out five though seven innings.
The former Indian is 15-4 with a 3.77 ERA in 27 career starts against Chicago.
Jermaine Dye has had success against the southpaw, taking him deep five times in 46 at bats, to go along with a ridiculous 1.120 OPS, but Sabathia has been able to hold down the rest of the Sox roster. Paul Konerko is 14-for-66 (.212) with 13 strikeouts and Jim Thome and A.J. Pierzynski are each 4-for-24 (.167) with a combined 17 Ks versus CC.
Buehrle, meanwhile, has struggled since tossing a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 23. The lefty is 0-4 with a 6.21 ERA in his past six starts. One of those was a loss to Sabathia and New York on Aug. 2, when he was lit up for seven runs and 12 hits before being removed in the fifth.
That’s nothing new for Buehrle, though, because he’s 1-6 with a 6.84 ERA in nine lifetime starts against the Bombers. He’s slightly better at Yankee Stadium, however, racking up a record of 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA.
Jose Molina could get another start behind the plate in this one, even though he played Thursday’s matinee against the Rangers, because he’s 6-for-15 (.400) versus Buehrle, while Jorge Posada is just 3-for-18 (.167).
Nick Swisher (8-for-17) has also had success facing the southpaw, as have Derek Jeter (11-for-28) and Mark Teixeira (11-for-35). Alex Rodriguez (6-for-28) and Hideki Matsui (2-for-10) have not, however, so expect to see Jerry Hairston, Jr. (6-for-23) or Eric Hinske (4-for-14) in the lineup.
Prediction: Yankees 6, White Sox 3
Saturday, August 29—Sergio Mitre (2-1, 6.82 ERA) vs. TBD
The Yankees lucked out when newly acquired Jake Peavy’s throwing session got cut short Wednesday because of pain he’s feeling after being struck by a line drive during a Minor League rehab start on Monday.
So, he won’t pitch on Saturday and neither will Jose Contreras, who got demoted to the bullpen after a bad start against Boston on Monday. Therefore, New York could see a Minor League prospect like Carlos Torres (10-4, 2.49 at Triple-A Charlotte) or Daniel Hudson (2-0, 3.49).
This could make for a high-scoring affair as Mitre finds his way back into the rotation for the first time in two weeks. On Aug. 21, the right-hander gave up four runs in two innings of relief against Boston, but his last start came on Aug. 15 at Seattle, when he pitched his best game as a Yankee (5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, W).
Mitre didn’t have as much success against the White Sox on July 31, though, when he surrendered five runs in three innings. The 28-year-old is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in three career starts versus Chicago.
Prediction: White Sox 8, Yankees 7
Sunday, August 30—Joba Chamberlain (8-4, 4.34) vs. Freddy Garcia (0-1, 6.75)
Back on regular rest for the first time in two weeks, Chamberlain heads into Sunday’s start trying to erase the stench of four straight stinkers, including back-to-back losses for the first time in his career.
Joba has never started against the White Sox, but in four relief appearances, he’s allowed just one run in five innings.
Alex Rios is 2-for-8 (.250) versus the right-hander, while Thome, Dye, Konerko and Pierzynski are a combined 0-for-8.
Garcia turned in a pretty good performance at Fenway on Tuesday, surrendering three runs on five hits and a walk, while fanning five in 6 1/3 innings. That was only his second start of the season and just his fifth in the past two years as the righty struggles to regain his form of 2006, when he went 17-9.
Garcia is 4-3 with a 4.19 ERA in nine career appearances against New York and he’s 3-1 with a 4.04 ERA at Yankee Stadium.
Hinske (6-for-13, HR) should get the start over Nick Swisher (0-for-6) in right field. Teixeira (0-for-9) has also been shutout versus Garcia and don’t expect to see Hairston (1-for-20) in the lineup, but A-Rod (12-for-32, 5 HR) will be licking his chops. If Molina doesn’t start Friday, he should on Sunday because he’s 8-for-20 (.400) against the 33-year-old, while Posada is just 3-for-16 (.188).
Prediction: Yankees 5, White Sox 4
Follow me on Twitter at JordanHarrison.
Jordan Schwartz is Bleacher Report’s New York Yankees Community Leader. His book “Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man” is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and authorhouse.com.
Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com
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