On Thursday, the New York Yankees took advantage of a rain-shortened 4-1 win in the first game of the 2020 MLB season in the nation’s capital. After a day off on Friday, last night, the Nationals pounded the Yankees and pitcher James Paxton in a lopsided 9-2 victory for the Washington Nationals.
With the shortened 60 game season, winning each game is 2.7 times as important than in a full season of 162 games. The same applies to every loss; it’s like losing three in a row. Interestingly the Yankees, despite the loss, have lost no ground on their East Division, AL, and NL rivals. Every single team in the east has won a game and lost a game.
Today the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals will wrap up the three-game series at 1:05 pm. The game will be played at Nationals Park under baking sunny skies. With no chance of rain, the game-time temperature will be in the low to mid-’90s. The game will be broadcast on TBS (out of market), MASN, and on the YES Network.
When the Yankees come up in the first inning, they will face the Nationals Patrick Corbin. Corbin last faced the Yankees in 2013. Four Yankee players had faced Corbin before but were not with the Yankees 2013 team when Corbin visited Yankee Stadium. DJ LeMahieu has the most experience with Corbin, having faced him in 35 at-bats for a .429 average off of the lefty.
Last year Corbin was 14-7 with an ERA of 3.25 in 33 starts and one complete game. Corbin was the Nationals worst pitcher in their World Series Championship run. He was 2-3 with an ERA of 5.79. Corbin is a New York native.
The New York Yankees have not announced who will start the game today at the time of this writing. It would have originally been Masahiro Tanaka, but Tanaka was hit in the head by a comebacker from fellow player Giancarlo Stanton in an intrasquad game at the Stadium. He is under concussion protocol but progressing well. He will most likely make his next start on July 31st, as the Yankees meet the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
By using an “opener” in today’s game, the Yankees keep their pitching rotation intact. Last year with the loss of Luis Severino, the Yankees used the opening format frequently. In fifteen starts, the Yankees won 11 of those games opened by super reliever Chad Green. As Green has not been used in game one or two, he will likely pitch in today’s game.
In the first inning today, all eyes will be on Giancarlo Stanton, who has performed to his 2017 MVP year in summer camp and in the first two games of the new season. Stanton has homered in both games, one for 459′ and one for 417.’ Last night in the Yankee’s failed attempt at a win, Stanton reached base in all three of his appearances. The homer, a double and a base on balls. Stanton’s plate discipline is excellent and right now he is seeing the ball as if its a basketball.