New York Yankees Previews: After seven loses, J.A. Happ takes the mound in matinee to stop the slide

New York Yankees, J.A. Happ
May 9, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher J.A. Happ (34) throws the ball against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees are amid their worst slide since Joe Girardi’s 2017 Yankees, the last time the Yankees lost seven games in a row.  The Yankees started out the season, in their first 21 games, 16-5, leading the East Division. Since then the team has slid dramatically, going 6-12 in the last 18 games.  The Yankees lost against the Phillies at Philadelphia, won one out of four at the Trop, later they were swept by the Braves, swept by the Rays, and now have lost two of two against the New York Mets.

The Yankees have to turn this around and turn it around quickly as their chances of regaining the lead in the East are diminishing every day, as the Tampa Bay Rays continue to play good ball.  The Yankees are now four games behind the Rays, are now third in the East Division, with only 30 games left to play in the season.  When the Yankees finish this series with the Mets, they will again have to face the Tampa Bay Rays who are 1-6 this season.

The Yankees will attempt to turn it around, by putting J.A. Happ on the mound at Yankee Stadium in a matinee game today.  However, the game today could be postponed or moved to an evening start, as thunderstorms will be widespread at the 1:05 pm game time.  The storms are the remnants of Hurricane Laura.  The chance of storms at game time is 60% and only 30% in the evening.  Assuming the game will go on as scheduled, it will be televised on the YES and SNY Networks.

The Yankees will start J.A. Happ, who has not been a happy camper lately. He has suggested the Yankees, by skipping him in two starts, are trying to make it impossible for him to vest his option.  However, he has allowed nine runs on ten hits and ten walks, striking out six in just twelve innings pitched. Nevertheless, he will start today’s game. Happ pitched very poorly in July. In his July 30 start, he gave up four earned runs in four innings, in a game the Yankees eventually won. In his August 5th game against the Phillies, he gave up four earned runs in only three innings in the Yankee loss.  The Yankee’s only hope is that he will pitch as he did in his last outing against the Red Sox. In that game, he pitched allowing only one solo home run in 5 2/3 innings. The Yankees also hope he can go deep into the game, saving the bullpen when they are playing five games in just three days. Happ will have to be careful with Robinson Cano that has had Happ’s number for some time.

The New York Mets will serve up righty Robert Gsellman. Gsellman has a 0-0 record with an ERA of 7.71 over two games.  He has not pitched in thirteen days.  The Mets hope Gsellman can throw 60 pitches in the game, as he is not fully stretched out. Most of the New York Yankees have never faced Gsellman.  However, Jordy Mercer has faced him four times and has batted .500 off him. Miguel Andujar is one for two off him.

For this third game, the “next man up” mentality, will have to kick in, as the Yankees are still short DJ LeMahieu, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, and now Gio Urshela for at least this one game.  In yesterday’s two losses, the Yankees did have some offense, particularly a home run Clint Frazier and Luke Voit’s 3 for 3 performance.   But the Yankee bullpen will have to do its job, something it hasn’t been doing lately, to preserve any Yankee lead.

After the conclusion of today’s game the Yankees will again face the New York Mets in a day-night doubleheader tomorrow at the Stadium, and then a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Yankees only have one day off for the rest of the season.