The New York Yankees will play a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium starting at 4:05 pm today, while protests happen nationally over the death of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. Blake was shot in the back seven times by police in Kenosha. In an unusual step the NBA, soccer, and some MLB teams became involved in the protest by postponing games on both Wednesday and Thursday. The New York Mets and the Miami Marlins took part yesterday, when they came out of the dugout, stood for 45 minutes of silence, and then left the field, not to return.
Following being swept by the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, New York Yankee manager Aaron Boone stated that he had just learned of the sports postponements. He said in a statement that he certainly understood their pain. When asked about the Yankee’s plans, he said that the team as a whole had not discussed the matter. But he also said, that there were no plans to postpone any part of this weekend’ series with the New York Mets.
In an associated matter, Yankee black minor leaguers are calling for the Yankees to make a statement to support racial injustice. First baseman Chris Gittens and outfielder Caanan Smith specifically called out Yankee owner Hal Steinbrenner and the entire Yankee organization. Several Yankee players and manager Aaron Boone have said that they will donate money to the Black Player’s Alliance.
“We’ve got to do better,†Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday. “And, you know, I certainly understand the pain that exists out there.â€
When the New York Yankees take the field today, they will be doing so after losing five games in a row against the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves. Now back at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees hope to rebound from the two sweeps. Game one at 4:05 pm will feature Jordan Montgomery on the mound for the Yankees to face Michael Wacha of the Mets. Game two will be about 7:05 pm, neither pitcher has been announced for that second game.
Whoever takes the mound in the games today, they will do so with game-time temperatures in the ’80s and with mostly cloudy skies at the Stadium. Both games will be broadcast on the YES Network, SNY, and MLBN out of market. During the night game, there is a chance of thundershowers.
Jordan Montgomery is 2-1 with an ERA of 4.66 and is coming off a rain-shortened effort against the Red Sox, in which he pitched well. He also pitched well during summer camp exhibition game against the Mets, hurling five scoreless innings. The second game will be a bullpen game for the Yankees, likely started by Michael King or Jonathan Loaisiga.
The righty Michael Wacha has a 1-2 record for the Mets this season and an ERA of 6.43, over 14 innings during three starts. Wacha recorded 18 strikeouts in the three games. In Wacha’s three years in the majors, he has never faced the Yankees. Interestingly he was a trade target for the Yankees in 2017.
With Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka, both pitching on Wednesday, they will not be available to pitch in this weekend’s five games. Saturday’s single game at 1:05 will be started by J.A. Happ. Saturday’s game will also be played with the threat of thunderstorms. The two Sunday games will present a challenge for manager Aaron Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake as they try to find pitchers for the two games. Most likely the Scranton shuttle will be used in at least one of those games. The first two games against the Rays at the Stadium on Monday and Tuesday will be started by Cole and Tanaka.
One thing that will be evident in both games today, will be the missing slugger, Aaron Judge. Judge returned from the IL on Wednesday, only to be immediately reinjured. In his first attempt to run the bases he again injuring the same calf and most likely will be headed back to the IL.
“We are waiting on the results but it seems like a recurrence of what he had before. Pretty much the same spot and everything,’’ Aaron Boone said Thursday on WFAN. “It does seem minor in nature again, but it is something that could turn into an IL stint again. It tightened up on him, which was a little bit similar to before. I think he understands, hopefully minor, but a setback. I think he is obviously frustrated.’’
With the New York Yankee shortage of both starting and bullpen, pitchers, don’t be surprised if we see pitching prospect Miguel Yajure, who was called up by the Yankees last week. Even though Yajure never has pitched in Triple-A, and has just three games of Double-A experience, he owns very good numbers over his five minor-league seasons (2.47 ERA in 61 games, 54 starts), and had a tremendous 2019 season. Pitching for high-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton last year, he was 9-6 with a 2.14 ERA with 133 strikeouts and 30 walks in 138 2/3 innings over 24 outings, 20 as a starter.