New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Garrett Richards

The New York Yankees hold a record of 32-16 after losing three of their last four games. They still boast the second-best mark in baseball, while sitting two games behind the first-place Red Sox in the AL East. Masahiro Tanaka (5-2, 4.95 ERA) faces off against Garrett Richards (4-3, 3.31 ERA) in the rubber match of the three-game series.

Pitching matchup

Shohei Ohtani was originally scheduled to start for the Halos today in the most eagerly-anticipated pitching matchup of the year, but was scratched in favor of Richards. That move may work in New York’s favor, as the Bombers roughed Richards up to the tune of nine runs when they faced him in Anaheim last month. Although only five of those runs were earned, he allowed five hits and three walks while only recording five outs.

That was the Saturday night game where the Yankees took a 10-0 lead in the second inning. Tanaka was the winning pitcher for New York in that blowout.

Tanaka had everything working for him that night. He allowed only one run on two hits while striking out nine and walking only two. He exited after six innings despite only throwing 88 pitches, simply because the Yankees had a nine-run lead and there wasn’t any reason to keep him in the game. Still, it was Tanaka’s most dominant outing of the 2018 campaign.

His most recent start was not good. He labored to complete five innings, and exited with the Yankees clinging to a 5-4 lead. Tanaka struggled with both his command and control. He walked three batters and coughed up two home runs.

Home runs continue to a problem for Tanaka when he fails to get his pitches to bite. The veteran righty has allowed eleven long balls this year. Only six American League pitchers have permitted more. The Yankees need a bounce-back game from Tanaka today to help them take the series from the Angels.

Lineups

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium

First pitch: 1:05 PM ET

TV channel: YES, MLBN (out-of-market only)

Online streaming: MLB.tv (out-of-market only)

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (full listings)

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