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New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers: Michael Pineda vs. A.J. Griffin

The Bombers try for the series split.

Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

After dropping the first two games of the four-game series, the Yankees look to even the score today after winning in dramatic fashion last night. Joe Girardi will hand the ball to Michael Pineda to get the job done, and he... has been pretty horrid this season.

His ERA has dropped to a still-bad-but-more-respectable 5.51, and he has enjoyed a June with a 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. I'm not sure I believe in that yet. He has had problems with command and the long ball, so I'll hold my breath before I declare he's good again. Luckily for the Yankees, an even more troubled pitcher stands on the opposing side. A.J. Griffin has not tossed a full season since 2013, and he has just seven starts to his name this year.

The lineup has a couple of surprises: Alex Rodriguez will face a right-hander even though it has been stated that Girardi will try to avoid that, and Ronald Torreyes will get his first start since June 8th. Starlin Castro gets a day off. I suppose the team needs Rodriguez's bat in there with Carlos Beltran's absence, so it would be nice to see him turn things around. Go Yankees, go baseball.

Today's Lineups

TEXAS RANGERS NEW YORK YANKEES
Shin-Soo Choo - RF Jacoby Ellsbury - CF
Ian Desmond - CF Brett Gardner - LF
Nomar Mazara - LF Alex Rodriguez - DH
Adrian Beltre - 3B Brian McCann - C
Prince Fielder - DH Mark Teixeira - 1B
Rougned Odor - 2B Chase Headley - 3B
Jurickson Profar - SS Didi Gregorius - SS
Mitch Moreland - 1B Aaron Hicks - RF
Robinson Chirinos - C Ronald Torreyes - 2B
A.J. Griffin - RHP Michael Pineda - RHP