New York Yankees
Johnny Damon, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Jorge Posada, C
Robinson Cano, 2B
Shelley Duncan, DH
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B
Melky Cabrera, CF
Chien-Ming Wang, RHP (18-7, 3.72)
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Akinori Iwamura, 3B
Jorge Velandia, 2B
Carlos Pena, 1B
B.J. Upton, CF
Delmon Young, RF
Greg Norton, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
Dioner Navarro, C
Josh Wilson, SS
J.P. Howell, LHP (1-5, 6.80)
For those of you who don't want the Yanks to face off against the Angels in the ALDS will likely get your wish. As of this writing, the Yanks will almost certainly play the Tribe since they are four games ahead of the Angels in the loss column (who have already lost today) with a doubleheader scheduled for tonight. The only real question is will the series be seven or eight days.
What do you guys think about that?
I know the Yanks have dominated the Tribe this season, but they have not faced C.C. Sabathia since 2004 when he was a completely different pitcher. Personally, I'm not exactly thrilled about this team facing him and Carmona back-to-back with the possibility of both pitching two games each. Not to mention that regular season success has proven time and time again to be a non-factor once the post-season begins (including the Yanks/Tigers in 2006).
As for tonight's game, Wang has decent career numbers against the D-Rays (5-4, 3.90 in 10 starts) but has unspectacular numbers against them this season (1-1, 5.11 in 2 starts).
Howell's career numbers against the Bombers are 1-1, 5.00 in 3 starts and was shelled on 7/21 (5 IP, 7 ER).
Yankees' career numbers vs. Howell can be viewed here. Rays' career numbers vs. Wang can be viewed here.
The featured graphic for tonight's game is the home jersey logo of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2001 to 2004.