Last Updated on August 20, 2016 8:23 pm by Brad Burns
Angels try to curtail Yankees’ momentum
Starting hurler Masahiro Tanaka did his usual thing in the Yankees’ 7-0 victory over the Angels last night. It was yet another rookie, though, who stole the spotlight out West.
Utility man Ronald Torreyes’ 4-for-4 effort helped New York kick off a six-game road trip in style. Manager Joe Girardi wants to see more of the same tonight, with a 9:35 p.m. ET first pitch in Anaheim. Online sports book Bovada.lv currently gives Los Angeles odds of -114 to prevail. The Yanks, on the other hand, enters as +104 underdogs.
The visiting team comes off a contest in which it tallied 15 base knocks, 10 of which were recorded off fallen ace Jered Weaver. A similar type of offensive bonanza would be embraced this evening, especially given the relative newbie taking the hill. Twenty-four-year-old Luis Cessa will make his first MLB start. He’s 2-0 with a 5.30 ERA in eight relief appearances.
On the other side, Ricky Nolasco boasts a slightly more extensive resume. Since arriving from the Twins on Aug. 1, though, the righty is just 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA. Most recently, he permitted three runs and eight hits vs. the Mariners.
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The Yankees sit only five games behind Baltimore for the second American League wild-card spot. They’re also within striking distance of the first-place Blue Jays in the AL East, period. In short, Girardi’s troops aren’t about to blow a golden opportunity against a club that’s about to miss the postseason for the sixth time in seven seasons.
SATURDAY MLB FREE PICK: YANKEES/ANGELS OVER 9 RUNS