The Yankees have actually looked pretty good — bullpen aside — in this series against the Astros, and again if not for that bullpen should probably be playing for the sweep tonight. Still, a series win over a division leader is never something to turn down, and that’s exactly what New York has the chance to do tonight in the finale of this three-game set.
Gerrit Cole gets the ball in the Bronx, looking to continue what’s been a very strong if abbreviated campaign, especially for a 35-year-old. He’d
be on a 4.5-win pace if he was playing a full season, and hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a start since July 22nd against the Pirates. In those subsequent five outings he’s failed to pitch six full innings just once, a 5.2 IP effort at the start of the month. This is significantly better than we could have hoped for coming off of Tommy John surgery at his age, and he always seems to bring a little extra facing his former club.
Former Yankee farmhand Hayden Wesneski is also in the midst of a return from TJS, but it hasn’t gone quite so smoothly for the righty. He doesn’t strike many men out, just 19.5 percent, but he does keep the ball in the yard which has helped keep his FIP 0.6 runs lower than his ERA. A 6.1-percent HR/FB rate is going to jump eventually though, and the Yankees have found their power stroke recently. Some of that lefty power we’ve seen this week could make it a long night but a short outing for Wes.
The Yankee lineup is unchanged from the previous two nights, presenting seven of nine hitters that will bat lefty against Wesneski. The offense seems to be getting itself into a groove, so if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
First pitch: 7:15 pm ET (slight delay from 7:05)
TV broadcast: YES, Space City Home Network
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, KLTN-TUDN 102.9 FM (HOU)
Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv (Out of Market only)
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