6/23-6/25: Yankees @ Braves Series Preview

Written by: David Lee on 23rd June 2009

6/23-6/25: Yankees @ Braves Series Preview | read this item

After another series loss to end the road trip, the Braves host the Yankees for three.

By losing two of three to the Red Sox in their most recent series, the Braves made it eight straight of either losing the series or splitting it, unless you want to count the postponed Cubs game they made up yesterday. The Braves did outhit and outpitch the Red Sox at Fenway but two losses are still two losses. Once again, another series loss and the Braves still made up ground in the East, moving to only four games back after the Cubs game they won.

The Yankees are currently four back of the Sox at 38-31. They have been trudging along the past month, being swept by the Sox before starting an interleague stretch in which they have gone 4-5 so far. The Yankees are coming off two straight series losses to the Nationals and Marlins.

(2009 stats followed by career stats vs. opposing team)
6/23 – 7:00
Chien-Ming Wang (0-5, 12.30…0-0, 2.25 in 1 start)
vs.
Tommy Hanson (2-0, 4.08)

The Braves are in a similar position with Wang as they were with Matsuzaka at Boston. Wang has been downright terrible in nine games, six starts, and the Yankees have put him in focus on a start-to-start basis. His most recent start, five innings of three-run ball against the Nationals, was good enough to keep him in the rotation for tonight. Hanson’s third start was by far his best, pitching six shutout innings over the Reds and earning his second win. Nerves could be a factor against the Yankees lineup.

6/24 – 7:00
Joba Chamberlain (3-2, 3.89)
vs.
Kenshin Kawakami (4-6, 4.42)

Chamberlain has had control problems throughout the season and works too deep into counts, not allowing him to go past six innings in his starts. Sound familiar? His opponent does the same thing. But Joba does a solid job of damage control and has kept his ERA at a good rate. After two straight starts allowing just one walk in each one, Kawakami has given up three walks in each of his last two starts. His ERA is slowly going down but his walk rate isn’t.

6/25 – 7:00
Andy Pettitte (7-3, 4.26…5-1, 3.13)
vs.
Derek Lowe (7-5, 4.09…8-10, 6.07)

A matchup of old-timers goes down on Thursday night. Pettitte has seven wins for the Yankees and is keeping his ERA respectable, though he has walked a good amount. He is coming off seven innings of one-run ball against the Marlins. Lowe bounced back from his bad start in Baltimore to pitch four shutout innings before giving up three runs to the Red Sox. Lowe has a rough past against the Yankees as a pitcher for the Red Sox.

Key Yankees Relievers:
CL – Mariano Rivera (27.2 IP, 3.25 ERA, 15 SV, 1 BS…9.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 6 SV, 1 BS)
SU – Phil Coke (29.2 IP, 3.64 ERA, 3 HLD)
MR – Brian Bruney (10.1 IP, 2.61 ERA, 5 HLD…5.1 IP, 10.13 ERA)

Key Yankees Hitters:
3B – Alex Rodriguez (.213, 9 HR, 28 RBI….289, HR, 3 RBI in 9 games)
1B – Mark Teixeira (.286, 20 HR, 56 RBI….200, 2 HR, 3 RBI in 6 games)
2B – Robinson Cano (.305, 12 HR, 42 RBI)

Yankees Injuries:
C – Jose Molina (15-day, strained quad)
RP – Damaso Marte (15-day, shoulder tendinitis)
INF – Cody Ransom (60-day, strained quad)
RF – Xavier Nady (15-day, sore elbow)

Links:
MLB.com Gameday
STATS Preview

Topics: Alex Rodriguez, andy pettitte, Atlanta Braves, chien-ming wang, derek lowe, kenshin kawakami, mariano rivera, Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees, Robinson Cano, tommy hanson