Can Girardi’s Yankees down D-backs?
Few ballparks this year have catered to sluggers like Chase Field. The Yankees hope it stays that way as a new week begins.
New York and Arizona kick off a three-game interleague set tonight, with a 9:40 p.m. ET first pitch in the desert. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI give the host team the benefit of the doubt here. Joe Girardi’s club, meanwhile, enters as a +102 underdog.
Despite a moderate uptick in offensive production over the past contests, the Yanks (16-20) remain rooted in the basement of the AL East. On the bright side, Carlos Beltran continues to turn back the block. The 39-year-old right fielder ripped four homers during the squad’s last home stand. Brian McCann also launched a bomb in the Pinstripers’ 7-5 win over the White Sox yesterday, giving the catcher five of them on the campaign.
The Diamondbacks’ primary goal consists of snapping a five-game losing skid. Robbie Ray (1-2, 4.84 ERA) will likely have to be markedly better on the mound in order for Chip Hale’s group to accomplish as much. Arizona (17-23) managed a mere seven runs in its just-completed series with San Francisco. Grasping at strings, management even felt compelled to promote one-time speed demon Michael Bourn from Class AA Mobile.
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New York’s clearly dealing with question marks, too, specifically on the rubber. Chad Green draws this evening’s assignment in place of Michael Pineda. The righty’s getting his first opportunity in the majors after posting a 1.22 ERA in seven appearances at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
In a battle of underachieving outfits, bank on the bats to perk up considering the suspect sources on the hill. Irrespective of the D-backs’ recent struggles at home, though, we’ll ride with them to overcome road-leery Yankees.
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