Today was supposed to be a much-needed day off for the New York Yankees, but today they will play a makeup game with the Los Angeles Angels. The game was made necessary due to a rainout when they last met in June at the Stadium. Tomorrow the Yankees will start a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox. The Angels are 12 1/2 out in the AL West, and the Yankees are 5.5 games out in the AL East; every game is important, but if the Yankees can sweep the Red Sox, they will take over second place in the East division.
Tonight, August 16, 7:05 pm:
Tonight, at Yankee Stadium, we will see the return off the Covid list of Yankee ace Gerrit Cole. Cole had not pitched since July 29th, when he lost to the Tampa Bay Rays. While on the Covid list, although he hasn’t pitched, he could throw the ball at home during his time away. This season he is 10-6Â with a 3.11 ERA and an incredible 176 strikeouts. The Yankees hope Cole will return to form in tonight’s game.
Cole will be facing the Angels Jose Suarez, a lefty that is 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA for the Angels in 15 games. He is coming off a loss on the 10th against the Toronto Blue Jays. Suarez typically gives up a lot of run and home runs as well. The Angels have lost 8 of his starts. DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton have hit well off Suarez.
Tuesday, August 17, 1:05 pm., game one:
On Tuesday, the first game of a day-night doubleheader will feature pitching sensation prospect Luis Gil on the mound for the Yankees. The righty is 1-0 with a Zero ERA and 14 strikeouts in two starts against the Orioles and Mariners. Gil has been the replacement for Gerrit Cole while he was on the Covid list. He has given the Yankees more than they could have asked for and now earns another start.
The Red Sox has not announced a starter for the game. The game will be televised on the YES Network, NESN, and MLBN out of market.
Tuesday, August 17, 7:05 pm., game two:
The night installment of the doubleheader will see the return of Jordan Montgomery from the Covid list. The lefty is 4-5 with an ERA of 3.69 and 115 strikeouts. “Monty” pitches much better than the record would suggest. He has gotten very little run support in most of his games. The Yankees hope the rest will allow Montgomery to have a good start tomorrow night. He is coming off of two wins, one against the Rays and one against the Marlins.
The Red Sox have not announced a starter for this game either. The game will be televised by WPIX and its affiliates in the New York area, NESN, and MLBN out of market.
Wednesday, August 18, 7:05 pm:
In this game, the tables are turned on the Red Sox as they have announced their starter, but the Yankees haven’t. This is largely because the Yankees don’t have a reliable starter for the game. It would normally be Andrew Heaney’s start, but that will likely not be the case with how poorly he has pitched. So instead, it could end up being a bullpen game started by either Lucas Luetge or Wandy Peralta. For both, it would be their second start.
The Red Sox will start Nick Pivetta, one of their best starters. He is a righty with a 9-5 record, an ERA of 4.20, and 139 strikeouts. He is coming off a six-inning outing win against the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees have not faced Pivetta this season. DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton have both hit well off of Pivetta in the past. Wednesday night’s game will be nationally televised on ESPN. It will also be on the YES Network and NESN.