After fighting back to split a four game series with the Chicago White Sox (which could have easily been a sweep), the Yankees find themselves facing an AL East opponent in the Toronto Blue Jays. Yankee starters over the past week have gone 50 innings, allowing only eight earned runs (yes, that's an ERA of 1.44). Three weeks into the season, they were one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball. Now? Well, things are changing.
Current Series
3 game series vs Blue Jays @ Yankee Stadium
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Toronto Blue Jays Friday, Apr 29, 2011, 7:05 PM EDT Ricky Romero vs Freddy Garcia Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to left field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 65. Complete Coverage > |
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| Sat 04/30 | 4:05 PM EDT | |
| Sun 05/01 | 1:05 PM EDT | |
Freddy Garcia has been unbelievable in his two starts thus far with the Yankees. He held Texas and Baltimore in check, throwing six shutout innings in each game. He's bound to give up a run soon, but it looks like this plug is keeping the ship afloat for now. If his career numbers against Toronto are any indication of how he'll perform tonight (which they aren't), the Bombers will be in for a long one. Garcia is 6-5 with a 6.10 ERA in 14 starts against the Blue Jays.
Ricky Romero's career stats against New York are 2-2 with a 5.70 ERA in six starts. The southpaw has pitched very well so far this season. His K/9 is up to 9.27, BB/9 down to 2.73, and his ERA and FIP are nearly identical at 3.00. He's 1-3 thanks to shoddy defense (3 of 14 runs scored against him have been unearned) and only 13 runs of support through his five starts.
Some notes:
- Ironically enough, the Yankees with the greatest success against Romero (yes, small sample sizes) are guys that have gotten off to the slowest starts this season. Brett Gardner is 4-9 with a grand slam off of Romero and Nick Swisher is 4-13 with two doubles and five walks against the lefty.
- Mark Teixeira is back in the lineup today after being sidelined by a jammed shoulder.
- Robinson Cano has walked once this season. ONCE.