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After Ivan Nova led the way last night the Yankees hope they can take the series this afternoon with another win. Phil Hughes starts today against ex-Yankee prospect Ian Kennedy as he makes his first start since being traded to the Padres. Hughes is soon to be a free agent and a start between these two will make Yankees fans wonder what could have been as both men were believed to be part of the future in New York. Now all they have is the present and a hope for a better future somewhere else.
Derek Jeter will sit out again today, so the lineup will be on the weak side, again:
Today's lineup: ichiro 9 Cano 4 Soriano 7 granderson 8 Overbay 3 Nunez 6 nix 5 Romine 2 Hughes 1
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) August 4, 2013
Ichiro Suzuki finally makes it into the starting lineup in this series as Brett Gardner gets the day off. Robinson Cano hits second again with Alfonso Soriano, Curtis Granderson, playing center once again, and Lyle Overbay representing the heart of the order. With the Captain indisposed, Eduardo Nunez plays shortstop and Jayson Nix plays third base. Austin Romine finally gets a day in the sun after sitting on the bench for an entire week.
Granderson finally showed some of the power that the Yankees have needed when he hit a two-run home run last night. Hopefully one of Cano, Soriano, Granderson, and Overbay can bring some power to this lineup, especially in expansive Petco Park.
First round pick Aaron Judge finally signed with the Yankees last month and has been in the organization preparing for his assignment to a professional level. The 2013 season had other plans and it turns out that Judge is now listed on the disabled list, though his injury is unknown at this time. His fellow first rounders Eric Jagielo and Ian Clarkin have both dealt with injuries since being signed. Clarkin has had a sprained ankle since before the draft, and Jagielo was placed on the DL for a time after he pulled his hamstring while preparing for his assignment.
By now we all know that 2013 is a season of injuries, at the major league level and all throughout the minor league level as well. There's no telling who might be next.