The Yankees got their bullpen intact with the return of flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman from suspension. Now, the pin-stripers just need a starter to get to them. The starting rotation has been a bust so far, but ace Masahiro Tanaka looks to tame the AL leading White Sox.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The White Sox have been the most profitable American League team on the moneyline all season with their surprising start. But the Sox hit a bump in the road over their final two games in Texas, closing out the three-game set with a pair of giveaway defeats. It was the kind of play the club avoided while amassing an AL-best 23-10 record.
The Sox led three different times on Tuesday, the last was 11-6 before Texas blew up for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to post a 13-11 victory. On Wednesday, less than 24 hours later, the Sox again allowed the Rangers to overcome three deficits and bowed 6-5. The day off before finishing their road trip with a three-game set in New York couldn’t have come at a better time for the AL leaders.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Miguel Gonzalez (0-0, 4.91 ERA) has “earned the right” to make a few more starts at the No. 5 spot in the rotation. The veteran righty gets another opportunity Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
Gonzalez enjoyed some success against the Rangers on Monday, giving up three hits and a run in 5.2 innings while taking a no-decision. He threw strikes, 47 of them among his 72 pitches, and attacked the Rangers hitters. Gonzalez is familiar with pitching in Yankee Stadium as he makes his eighth career start there. He’s 2-3 with a 4.99 ERA over 39.2 innings.
Even Masahiro Tanaka (1-0, 2.29 ERA) can’t escape the problems that have plagued the Yankees starting rotation. Tanaka matched a career-high with six earned runs and three homers allowed against the Royals in his last outing, though he battled to get through seven innings at 79 pitches. Amazingly, he was in line for the win before the bullpen coughed it up. The Yanks eventually won 10-7.
It was the first time this year Tanaka had permitted more than two earned runs in seven starts and he still owns a 3.11 ERA, so we’ll cut him some slack. However, all five home runs he’s allowed this year have come in Yankee Stadium.
LIVE BETTING
Aroldis Chapman was relieved to finally make his season debut, and the Yankees were, too. Chapman served his 30-game suspension and entered Monday’s game with Kansas City in a non-save situation. He hit 102 mph on the stadium radar gun and fanned the first two batters. Chapman is still working out the kinks from his inactivity and allowed a run when the next two batters hit safely.
Pitching on consecutive days, Chapman recorded his first save as a Yankee on Tuesday, tossing a scoreless ninth inning to preserve a three-run lead. It will be cool to watch Dellin Betances to Andrew Miller to Chapman on many nights coming out of the bullpen, but the real potential Yankees advantage is having at least one of them available daily.
QUICK PICK
The Yankees have shown signs of breaking out of an offensive slumber that has lasted much of the season. The pitching? That’s another question. We all know about the hard-throwing trio in the bullpen and that’s great, but if you can’t pass them a lead, it doesn’t matter much. Even Tanaka wasn’t immune from the troubles experienced by the starters. He was clubbed in his last outing, but that’s not the norm, and there’s a good chance he returns to his usual steady self. If that’s the case, the White Sox don’t stand a chance.
MLB Odds: New York 5, Chicago 3
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