New York Yankees
Johnny Damon, DH
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Hideki Matsui, LF
Jorge Posada, C
Robinson Cano, 2B
Wilson Betemit, 1B
Melky Cabrera, CF
Andy Pettitte, LHP (12-8, 3.82)
Kansas City Royals
Esteban Germán, 3B
Mark Grudzielanek, 2B
Billy Butler, 1B
Mike Sweeney, DH
Mark Teahan, RF
Emil Brown, LF
Tony Peña Jr., SS
Jason LaRue, C
Joey Gathright, CF
Brian Bannister, RHP (12-7, 3.16)
Pettitte has outstanding career numbers against the Royals (10-3, 3.05 ERA in 16 starts). Staff ace Brian Bannister, son of former major leaguer Floyd Bannister, makes his first career start against the Yanks and has been virtually unhittable in his last 9 starts (7-1, 2.17 ERA).
Bum ankle or not, A-Rod is in one of his Super-Man grooves at the dish -- hitting .400 (24-60), 10 HR, 20 RBI, 17 runs in his last 17 games.
Remember Bryce Florie?
It was seven years ago today when he was hit in the face with a line drive off the bat of Yankees' Ryan Thompson at Fenway. Florie suffered a fractured cheekbone, a fracture of the orbital socket, and significant retinal damage. He never lost consciousness and left the game with blood pouring out of his face.
Oh yeah, the Yanks would eventually win the game 4-0 on a gem by Roger Clemens.
Florie would return the next season but appeared in just seven games and was released mid-season by the heartless Red Sox -- never to pitch in the major leagues again.
And finally, it was 9 years ago today when Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris' single-season home run record by connecting for his 62nd of the year off Steve Trachsel in the 4th inning of the Cardinals' 6-3 victory over the Cubs.
The featured graphic for tonight's game is the home jersey logo for the Kansas City Royals from 2002 to 2005.