The New York Yankees opening day game is Thursday, July 23, at 7 pm, in the nation’s capital. The game is against the World Champion Washington Nationals and will feature the Yankee’s new pitching ace Gerrit Cole facing the National’s ace Max Scherzer. The Yankees are traveling today for a late workout at National’s Park this afternoon.
Ahead of the game, the Yankees have made several moves. One of those moves included optioning Jordan Montgomery to the Yankees alternate training site in Moosic, PA.
Manager Boone announced that Cole would start on Thursday and James Paxon on Saturday. Masahiro Tanaka’s scheduled start on Sunday probably will not happen. It has yet to be decided but will most likely be started by an opener. Chad Green, Jonathan Loaisiga, and Michael King were mentioned to start that game. Montgomery would likely be recalled before the sixth start of the season.
Before the first game of the regular season, the New York Yankees must reduced their pitchers, hitters, and bench down to the allowed 30 men, mandated by MLB for the first two weeks of the season. In doing so they have reassigned to the club’s alternate training site in Moosic, Pa., infielder Matt Duffy, outfielder Estevan Florial, right-hander Deivi GarcÃa, outfielder Zack Granite, catcher Erik Kratz, pitcher Brooks Kriske, pitcher Tyler Lyons, pitcher Nick Nelson, pitcher Clarke Schmidt, pitcher Nick Tropeano, pitcher Miguel Yajure and right-hander Tony Zych.
Prior to moving the players and pitchers manager, Aaron Boone had words about pitching prospects Clarke Schmidt and Deivi Garcia.
“Deivi is a young guy that had so much success last year and rocketed through [the Minors] that clearly still has some development to go,†Boone said. “This will be an important time for him down there to continue to develop and iron out his delivery. His repertoire and his talent will allow him to get here, so it’s an important time for him to continue to prove himself down there and keep himself in the conversation.
“And then Clarke … has delivered in every way; what we saw in Spring Training, what we’ve seen now here in Summer Camp, he’s been excellent. For a guy that hasn’t had a lot of Minor League experience yet, he’s pretty polished, too. Hopefully, he’ll go down there and continue to develop and pitch. He’s very much in the conversation to be with us at some point this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was — and not only if he was, but playing an important role for us.â€
Earlier yesterday, Clarke Schmidt was awarded the James P. Dawson Award, indicative of the club’s top rookie in Spring Training.
The Yankees alternate training site in Moosic, PA is the home of the Scranton Wilkes/Barre Rail Riders of the minor leagues. The Yankees AAA team plays at PNC Park.
In other moves, the New York Yankees placed right-hander Dan Otero on the restricted list. They also signed left-hander Luis AvilaÌn, right-hander David Hale and catcher Chris Iannetta to Major League contracts, selecting them to the 40-man roster.
In the case of Otero, the reason for him being placed on the restricted list is unclear. The restricted list includes players who are out of organized baseball but are not free agents. It can include a player has left the team without a valid reason, or has announced his intention to retire but is still of age or level of skill that could allow him to return in the future. In effect, the team states that it retains rights to the player if and when he becomes active again. The list is also used to place a player who is unavailable to play for non-baseball reasons, such as personal issues or trouble with the law.