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Yankees lineup vs. Athletics - Scott Sizemore called up, Zoilo Almonte sent down

Welcome back, Scott!

By TanyaAnderson
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Having your team unable to score runs against the likes of the Minnesota Twins is really frustrating. That doesn't get easier when the Oakland Athletics visit Yankee Stadium for three games, entering with one of the best pitching staffs in baseball and a red hot offense. Hiroki Kuroda is charged with keeping the A's hitters in check tonight. Here's the lineup he'll have behind him. Hopefully they can stop doing that thing where they look like a bunch of little leaguers in the field and on the base paths.

Brett Gardner, Derek Jeter, and Jacoby Ellsbury remain locked in as the top three hitters. Mark Teixeira returns to the lineup after receiving a cortisone shot in his wrist during Saturday's game. Hopefully that's a sign that he is feeling better, because Tex's bat has carried this team when he is on and the Kelly Johnson first base experiment has been disappointing to say the least. Alfonso Soriano couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat right now, but he'll bat behind Yangervis Solarte, who continues to be a revelation in a disappointing offense to this point. Brian McCann gets the night off in favor of John Ryan Murphy, who has swung the bat extremely well when he has gotten the chance to play. Brendan Ryan is at shortstop instead of the Captain tonight, which should make Kuroda a little happier.

Brian Roberts also gets the night off, allowing Solarte to play his more natural position of second base. Scott Sizemore, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre today, gets the start at third base. In 40 games for the RailRiders this season, Sizemore has hit .265/.333/.361 with seven doubles and one home run. His bat has been hot as of late, batting .326/.383/.488 over his last ten games. Zoilo Almonte was sent down to make room for Sizemore on the roster, which could indicate that Carlos Beltran is on the verge of a return. He's set to get some more reps in extended spring training before hopefully joining the team for their trip to Kansas City this weekend.

Tonight's game starts at 7:05 pm with Scott Kazmir going for the Athletics.

Update: More moves!

Michael Pineda was moved to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster for Wade LeBlanc, who the Yankees claimed from the Angels. The Pineda move is retroactive, meaning that the team doesn't anticipate any change in the timetable they have already given for his return. Not sure why Alfredo Aceves couldn't be DFA'd to make room instead, as he has been nothing but terrible for the Yankees in mop up duty.

Girardi seemed unsure, but it sounds like LeBlanc will be with the big league team very soon.

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