NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  LF
Melky Cabrera,  CF
Bobby Abreu,  DH
Derek Jeter,  SS
Jason Giambi,  1B
Shelley Duncan,  RF
Robinson Cano,  2B
Jose Molina,  C
Alberto Gonzalez,  3B

DETROIT TIGERS

Ivan Rodriguez,  C
Placido Polanco,  2B
Carlos Guillen,  3B
Magglio Ordonez,  RF
Miguel Cabrera,  1B
Marcus Thames,  RF
Edgar Renteria,  SS
Ryan Raburn,  LF
Brandon Inge,  CF

PREGAME NOTES:

• There's a good chance today's game won't get played because rain is expected all day.  Ed Price explains why that would be a good thing for the Yanks because it allows them to skip Kei Igawa's slot in the rotation and allow Ian Kennedy to return Friday after his start today for Scranton.
• I like Joe Girardi, but what the hell is the deal with his starting lineups?  Is it really that difficult to make out a lineup card and stick with it for a few days?  I don't get why he needs to be so creative.  I understand there's a lefty on the mound this afternoon, but still.
  
• The Yankee bullpen has been outstanding of late compiling a 1.05 ERA with an 0.70 WHIP over their last 8 games (25.2 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 7 BB, 17 K).  Keep in mind all three runs were given up by Joba Chamberlain with one swing of the bat by David Dellucci on Monday night.
• Andy Pettitte is a lifetime 10-9, 3.66 ERA, 1.38 WHIP in 23 starts against the Tigers.
• Nate Robertson is a lifetime 2-5, 5.02 ERA, 1.56 WHIP in 8 games against the Yanks but did pick up the win with a rather unimpressive performance at the Stadium (5.2 IP, 4 ER) on May 1.
  
• Yanks career numbers vs. Robertson can be viewed here.  Tigers career numbers vs. Pettitte can be viewed here.
  

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  LF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Hideki Matsui,  DH
Jason Giambi,  1B
Melky Cabrera,  CF
Robinson Cano,  2B
Wilson Betemit,  3B
Chad Moeller,  C

DETROIT TIGERS

Curtis Granderson,  CF
Matt Joyce,  LF
Carlos Guillen,  3B
Magglio Ordonez,  RF
Miguel Cabrera,  1B
Gary Sheffield,  LF
Edgar Renteria,  SS
Ivan Rodriguez,  C
Ramon Santiago,  2B

PREGAME NOTES:

• For those of you wondering, Ed Price explains how Ian Kennedy can be recalled to start in place of Kei Igawa on Wednesday night against Tampa.  Tuesday marks the 10th day since his demotion last Sunday so he would be eligible to return.  It would take some reshuffling of their current plans, though, with Kennedy slated to start tomorrow for Scranton. 
• Don't look now but Robinson Cano is starting to get into a groove at the dish.  He is 7 for his last 19 (.368) with 2 homers and 2 doubles and has a modest 5-game hitting streak.  Call it wishful thinking if you will, but I have a feeling he's about to explode.
• Rasner has made one career appearance against the Tigers, but it was in relief (1.2 IP, 0 ER).
  
• Jeremy Bonderman is a lifetime 3-6, 5.21 ERA, 1.54 WHIP in 11 games (10 starts) against the Yanks, including a 6-2 victory at the Stadium on April 30.
  
• Yanks career numbers vs. Bonderman can be viewed here.  Tigers career numbers vs. Rasner can be viewed here.
  

NEW YORK YANKEES

Melky Cabrera,  CF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Hideki Matsui,  LF
Shelley Duncan,  1B
Jason Giambi,  DH
Wilson Betemit,  3B
Robinson Cano,  2B
Chad Moeller,  C

DETROIT TIGERS

Ivan Rodriguez,  C
Placido Polanco,  2B
Carlos Guillen,  3B
Magglio Ordonez,  RF
Miguel Cabrera,  1B
Gary Sheffield,  LF
Edgar Renteria,  SS
Marcus Thames,  DH
Ryan Raburn,  CF

PREGAME NOTES:

• Good news on A-Rod.  He completed his first rehab workout in Tampa today and everything seems to be going swimmingly.  He will have another MRI on Monday morning before he gets the okay to play in a couple of extended games.  Assuming there are no setbacks, he could be activated as soon as Thursday (May 15).
• In a bit of a surprise, Kyle Farnsworth's three-game suspension for throwing behind the head of Manny Ramirez on April 19 has been reduced to just one game.  He will serve it tonight.
• Chris Britton has been demoted once again to Scranton to make room for Kei Igawa on the roster.
• Igawa makes his first career start against the Tigers.  He is already slated to make another start on Wednesday in Tampa.
  
• Kenny Rogers is a lifetime 6-7, 6.25 ERA, 1.87 WHIP in 36 starts against the Yanks, including a 6-4 victory on April 29 at the Stadium.  Yanks career numbers vs. Rogers can be viewed here.

I'm going to put the whole Joba fist pump thing to rest for now, but Joel Sherman made a good point on his Hardball Blog today:

We [NY media] criticize Joe Torre and Tom Glavine for showing too little emotion, and then we criticize Joba Chamberlain and Jose Reyes for showing too much. Is there some pamphlet they can purchase somewhere to learn just the right amount of emotion to show to make all the people happy all time?

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Grady Sizemore,  CF
Jamey Carroll,  2B
David Dellucci,  DH
Jhonny Peralta,  SS
Ben Francisco,  LF
Franklin Gutierrez,  RF
Ryan Garko,  1B
Casey Blake,  3B
Kelly Shoppach,  C

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  LF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Hideki Matsui,  DH
Jason Giambi,  1B
Melky Cabrera,  CF
Robinson Cano,  2B
Wilson Betemit,  3B
Jose Molina,  C

PREGAME NOTES:

• Hideki Matsui nows leads the AL in hitting at .339 - just ahead of Victor Martinez (.337).  Matsui also leads the AL with a .424 OBP.
• The last time the Tribe swept the Yanks at the Stadium was April of 1989.
• Yanks have a paltry 5-10 record against the AL Central this season.  Last season, they bludgeoned the AL Central with a 30-11 record.
• Paul Byrd is a lifetime 2-4, 4.64 ERA, 1.45 WHIP in 9 starts against the Yanks, but did win his last start against them in a less than stellar outing on April 25 (5.2 IP, 4 ER).
• Moose is a lifetime 12-9, 4.75 ERA, 1.24 WHIP in 26 starts against the Tribe, including a 5-2 victory over them on April 28 at the Jake.
• Yanks' career numbers vs. Byrd can be viewed here.  Tribe career numbers vs. Moose can be viewed here.
• For you baseball purists, Fred Bierman of the NY Times penned an interesting brief history on stirrups and the current "wide array of hosiery styles across MLB."  Believe it or not, Manny Ramirez has more in common with the 1868 Cincinnati Red Stockings than one would expect.  Who knew?

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Grady Sizemore,  CF
Ben Francisco,  RF
David Dellucci,  LF
Victor Martinez,  DH
Jhonny Peralta,  SS
Asdrubal Cabrera,  2B
Casey Blake,  1B
Kelly Shoppach,  C
Andy Marte,  3B

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  LF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Shelley Duncan,  1B
Hideki Matsui,  DH
Melky Cabrera,  CF
Robinson Cano,  2B
Morgan Ensberg,  3B
Jose Molina,  C

PREGAME NOTES:

• Care to guess who currently ranks #2 in the AL in hitting?  It's none other than Hideki Matsui (.342), trailing only Victor Martinez (.347) of the Tribe. 
• Pete Abe reports that A-Rod feels no pain after working out today doing sprints and taking grounders before hitting the cage.  A-Rod, along with Hughes and Posada, is expected to head to Tampa tomorrow and will likely see some extended Spring Training games on Monday and Tuesday.  If all goes as planned and there are no setbacks, he's expected to be activated next Wednesday.
  
• In a rather impressive feat, Chien-Ming Wang has made 34 starts during his career following a Yankee loss and the team is 27-7 in those games, including the past 11 in a row.  Coming into tonight, opponents are 0 for their last 15 against Wang w/ RISP.
  
• Cliff Lee is a lifetime 2-3, 6.82 ERA in 6 starts against the Yanks, including 1-2, 8.73 ERA in 3 starts at Yankee Stadium.
• Wang is a lifetime 3-1, 2.73 ERA in 4 starts against the Tribe, including an outstanding 1-0 victory over Sabathia on April 27. 
• Yanks' career numbers vs. Lee can be viewed here.  Tribe career numbers vs. Wang can be viewed here.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Grady Sizemore,  CF
Jamey Carroll,  2B
Jhonny Peralta,  SS
Ryan Garko,  1B
Franklin Gutierrez,  RF
Travis Hafner,  DH
Ben Francisco,  LF
Kelly Shoppach,  C
Andy Marte,  3B

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  LF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Hideki Matsui,  DH
Jason Giambi,  1B
Melky Cabrera,  CF
Robinson Cano,  2B
Wilson Betemit,  3B
Jose Molina,  C

PREGAME NOTES:

• First off, Ian Kennedy will make his 2008 debut for Scranton tonight against the Charlotte Knights (ChiSox).  I'll be sure to keep you posted on his outing.
• Pete Abe reports that A-Rod will begin baseball-related activities tomorrow and notes the tentative plan is to have him work out in Tampa on Thursday and perhaps play a couple of rehab games next Monday and Tuesday.  Hopefully, he will be activated a week from tomorrow.
• Wilson Betemit has been activated from the 15-day DL and Alberto Gonzalez has been sent back down to Scranton.  I know I'm not alone when I say Gonzalez is by far the more useful player to this team and would rather see Betemit gone.
  
• Fausto Carmona is a lifetime 0-1, 3.86 ERA in 5 games (2 starts) against the Yanks.
• Andy Pettitte is a lifetime 6-8, 4.63 ERA in 17 starts against the Tribe, including the short end of a 6-4 defeat on April 25.  Hard to believe, but Pettitte has not beaten the Tribe at Yankee Stadium since June of  '96.
  
• Yanks' career numbers vs. Carmona can be viewed here.  Tribe career numbers vs. Pettitte can be viewed here.
• By now, most of you have probably heard about A-Rod wussing out in the delivery room while C-Rod was giving birth to their first child.  Pretty funny stuff and something else he will probably never live down.

SEATTLE MARINERS

Ichiro Suzuki,  CF
Jose Lopez,  2B
Raul Ibanez,  LF
Adrian Beltre,  3B
Jose Vidro,  1B
Yunieksy Betancourt,  SS
Jeff Clement,  DH
Kenji Johjima,  C
Wladimir Balentien, RF

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  LF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Hideki Matsui,  DH
Jason Giambi,  1B
Melky Cabrera,  CF
Robinson Cano,  2B
Morgan Ensberg,  3B
Chad Moeller,  C

Darrell Rasner,  RHP  (0-0,  --  )

PREGAME NOTES:

• Pete Abe reports that Ian Kennedy has been sent down to Scranton to make room for Darrell Rasner on the active roster.  Kennedy will start for Scranton on Tuesday.
  
• Brian Bruney has been moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL to clear space on the 40-man roster.
• Sadly, it appears Kei Igawa is the leading candidate to start Friday or Saturday against the Tigers in place of Kennedy.  Mike Mussina is likely to get an extra day off this week.
• Memo to Joe Girardi:  Leave Johnny Damon in the starting lineup until he cools off.  Over his last 12 games, Damon is hitting a robust .413 (19 for 46)/.491 OBP/.783 SLG with 3 HR, 8 doubles, 7 RBI, 14 runs scored and has raised his average from .197 to .290.  I understand why Girardi likes to give players a rest on occasion but it seems to be a little counterproductive to sit your hottest hitter when the team has been struggling to score runs.  You can apply the same logic to Matsui and Cabrera since they are among the few who have hit consistently since the beginning of the season.
  
• Matt Garza is a lifetime 0-1, 6.75 ERA, 1.95 WHIP in 2 games (one start) against the Yanks.
  
• Darrell Rasner is a lifetime 1-1, 2.53 ERA, 1.41 WHIP in 2 starts against the Mariners.
  
• Yanks career numbers vs. Silva can be viewed here.  Mariners career numbers vs. Rasner can be viewed here.

SEATTLE MARINERS

Ichiro Suzuki,  CF
Miguel Cairo,  2B
Raul Ibanez,  LF
Adrian Beltre,  3B
Jeff Clement,  DH
Richie Sexson,  1B
Kenji Johjima,  C
Wladimir Balentien,  RF
Yuniesky Betancourt,  SS

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  LF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Hideki Matsui,  DH
Jason Giambi,  1B
Melky Cabrera,  CF
Robinson Cano,  2B
Morgan Ensberg,  3B
Jose Molina,  C

PREGAME NOTES:

• Yanks are now 13-0 on the season when their starter completes 6.0 IP or better and just 2-16 when they don't.
• King Felix is a lifetime 1-2, 4.82 ERA, 1.61 WHIP in 3 starts against the Yanks, including a 7-1 victory over Roger Clemens last September.
  
• Moose is a lifetime 17-5, 3.75 ERA, 1.19 WHIP in 27 games (26 starts) against the Mariners.  He has won his last 6 decisions against the Mariners, but has not made a start against them since 2005.
  
• Yanks career numbers vs. King Felix can be viewed here.  Mariners career numbers vs. Moose can be viewed here.

SEATTLE MARINERS

Ichiro Suzuki,  CF
Jose Lopez,  2B
Raul Ibanez,  LF
Adrian Beltre,  3B
Jeff Clement,  DH
Richie Sexson,  1B
Wladimir Balentien,  RF
Jaime Burke,  C
Yuniesky Betancourt,  SS

NEW YORK YANKEES

Melky Cabrera,  CF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Shelley Duncan,  1B
Hideki Matsui,  LF
Jason Giambi,  DH
Morgan Ensberg,  3B
Jose Molina,  C
Alberto Gonzalez,  2B

PREGAME NOTES:

• Although there is no official confirmation from the team, Jim Baumbach reports that Jorge Posada's doctors have essentially all prescribed rest, which is obviously the best case scenario.  According to Girardi, Posada will likely need two weeks of rest and two weeks of strengthening his shoulder and then a rehab assignment.  Think mid-June at the earliest.
  
• Phil Hughes saw an eye specialist and was told he's slightly nearsighted so he'll probably be wearing glasses the next time he takes the mound because he dislikes contacts.  Maybe Rickey Vaughn can find him a pair of sporty-looking specs? 
  
• Jose Veras is with the club and replaces Hughes on the active roster.  Darrell Rasner is not currently on the active roster, so it's likely Veras or perhaps Kennedy could get sent down on Sunday to make room for him.
  
• The Yanks come into this series losers of their last 3 games and 6 of their last 8 games. 
  
• Erik Bedard is a lifetime 4-3, 3.58 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) against the Yanks, but has thoroughly dominated them in his last 5 starts (3-0, 1.64 ERA, 0.88 WHIP).
  
• Chien-Ming Wang is a lifetime 6-0, 2.51 ERA, 0.91 WHIP in 6 starts against the Mariners, including 2-0, 1.17 ERA, 0.65 WHIP in two starts last season.
  
• Yanks career numbers vs. Bedard can be viewed here.  Mariners career numbers vs. Wang can be viewed here.

UPDATE: 

Pete Abe now has official confirmation on Posada's ailing shoulder.  He has been diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis.  Rest and rehab is the solution.  Posada claims that surgery is a possibility but not until the offseason.

DETROIT TIGERS

Curtis Granderson,  CF
Placido Polanco,  2B
Gary Sheffield,  DH
Magglio Ordonez,  RF
Miguel Cabrera,  1B
Carlos Guillen,  3B
Jacque Jones,  LF
Brandon Inge,  C
Ramon Santiago, SS

NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon,  LF
Derek Jeter,  SS
Bobby Abreu,  RF
Shelley Duncan,  1B
Hideki Matsui,  DH
Melky Cabrera,  CF
Morgan Ensberg,  3B
Robinson Cano,  2B
Chad Moeller,  C

PREGAME NOTES:

More bad news regarding Phil Hughes.  According to Brian Cashman, Hughes has suffered a stress fracture in his ninth rib and will be shut down for quite awhile.  He is expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks.  Ugh.

As most of you know by now, Darrell Rasner has been recalled from Scranton to take Hughes' spot on the roster and will start on Sunday - also known as PA Day.

During their last six games, the Yankee offense has been downright horrific;  scoring just 19 runs and hitting just .202 overall and .184 w/ RISP.

Ian Kennedy has never faced the Tigers.

Nate Robertson is a lifetime 1-5, 4.86 ERA in 7 starts against the Yanks, including 0-4, 4.11 ERA in his last 4 starts.  He is a lifetime 0-3, 6.97 ERA in 4 starts at Yankee Stadium.  Yanks career numbers vs. Robertson can be viewed here.