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After splitting the two-game series with the Cubs, the Yankees head all the way over to the other side of Chicago to face the White Sox.
Yankees lineup at White Sox: Ellsbury 8 Jeter DH Teixeira 3 Soriano 9 Solarte 5 Roberts 4 Murphy 2 Ryan 6 Almonte 7 Phelps RHP
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 22, 2014
Tonight's lineup looks a little different than it usually does. Jacoby Ellsbury is leading off while Derek Jeter is the designated hitter and Mark Teixeira bats third. Alfonso Soriano is in the outfield and is hitting cleanup, Yangervis Solarte is moved up to fifth in the order with Brian Roberts behind him. John Ryan Murphy will to the catching to give Brian McCann the night off, and Brendan Ryan and Zoilo Almonte rounds out the lineup. Thankfully we no longer have to worry about pitchers batting, but that's still a weak-looking lineup. It would appear that the Yankees are trying to stack up right-handed hitters against the left Chris Sale, so that's why Brett Gardner is out of the lineup.
With the Yankees dealing with all sorts of injuries to their starting rotation, there's not doubt that Brian Cashman is looking for any kind of upgrade that might be available. It might be too early to make a trade, but with the Pirates designating Wandy Rodriguez for assignment, they might someone they could pick up at stick in the rotation. Cashman has looked into acquiring Rodriguez before, but now all he'd cost is money – and not much of it at that, since he's already getting $5.5 million from the Astros and $7.5 million from Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the lefty veteran has been rather awful this year, accumulating a 6.75 ERA with a 7.34 FIP in six starts. He's also suffered from a 3.38 HR/9, which is probably not something you want to purposefully bring into Yankee Stadium. Even with a rotation that includes David Phelps, Vidal Nuno, and Chase Whitley, it feels like Wandy Rodriguez would still manage to be a downgrade.