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Around the Empire
ESPN New York | Wallace Matthews: Injured starter Luis Severino will pitch a full bullpen session today, and if all goes well, then he will make a rehab start this upcoming Sunday. He previously threw off flat ground on Saturday. It remains to be seen how the starting rotation will shake up whenever Severino is ready to return from his triceps strain. Ivan Nova has pitched very well in the combination of his and CC Sabathia's absence. Chances are that Joe Girardi will simply address the issue at that time; it's definitely unclear if all his starters will be healthy then.
LoHud | Chad Jennings: Even though some have credited Masahiro's Tanaka's bounceback start from Saturday to his extra day of rest, Tanaka himself did not feel that he was that much stronger. The six days of rest represented the normal gap from his NPB days, but perhaps Tanaka is simply becoming more accustomed to the American style of play. Either way, the more outings like Saturday, the better.
ESPN New York | Wallace Matthews: Michael Pineda demonstrated some improvement from his nightmare of recent starts by delivering six innings of three-run ball on Sunday, enough to even earn the win. He kept the A's in the park, too, which was another positive given his homer problems early this year. One start is encouraging, but at the same time, it's one start. He still has plenty to prove in terms of any consistency.
NJ.com | Randy Miller: Chase Headley outlined the Yankees' simple series of goals. First, they will get back to .500, and second, they will jump back into the early playoff picture. Like Headley himself, the team went through some serious struggles early on, bottoming out at 9-17 entering May 6th, a full eight games under .500. That loss on May 5th finished up a dreadful 2-7 road trip. Since then, they've gone 12-5, the exact kind of positive stretch they needed. They can accomplish goal one with a win tomorrow night against the Blue Jays to return to square one at .500.
Fun Questions
- Dwight Schrute or Ron Swanson?
- They might be considered disappointments now, but at the time, who was your favorite prospect of the Yankees' 2007 "Big Three?" (Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba Chamberlain)
Song Of The Day
America's Sweetheart by Elle King
Continuing Staff Picks 2016 Best Songs Week on Pinstripe Alley, here's my contribution! This hasn't charted as well as King's big debut hit from last year (Ex's and Oh's), but I think this one's even catchier. It's a good song for road trips.
Didi Victory Tweet
#spreadthenews yankees win Great start by #BigMike .... #Bmac and #Ellsbury with the solo homers and overall great Win....
— Sir Didi Gregorius (@DidiG18) May 22, 2016