Post by Commissioner Erick on Mar 15, 2020 18:10:56 GMT -5
Houston Astros (30-24) @ New York Yankees (28-25)
HOU: Evan Mendoza (3-3, 3.97)
NYY: Jesse Biddle (4-4, 4.70)
Despite a rough pair of weeks, the New York Yankees are still in the thick of the AL playoff picture, relying on a strong offense and a dominant bullpen. They'll face a Houston Astros club that improbably leads the AL West tonight in the Game of the Week.
The Yankees have finalized optimized a strategy they wanted to rely on the last few years. While the club is 8th in runs, they're only 11 away from first place Toronto for most runs in the AL. The club is first in OPS with a slugging-rich offense and an ascending Jared Kelenic leading the way.
After perplexing struggles the past two years, the Yankees are complimenting that offense with the best bullpen in the American League. Aroldis Chapman has his best walk rate since 2019 and he hasn't allowed a home run, resulting in 13 saves in 14 attempts. Giovanny Gallegos has built upon a pair of excellent years to post a 0.96 ERA thus far. Jorge Guzman has reduced his ERA from the mid-4s to the mid-2. Nick Rumbelos has put a disastrous 2022 behind him, and Freicer Perez has agreed with his move to the pen.
This how the club can overcome a starting staff that's been devastated by a ballooning payroll, age, and injuries. As recently as 2021, the Yankees could have relied on names like Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Jesse Hahn, and Nathan Eovaldi. Tanaka is a Free Agent coming off a bad season with the White Sox, Severino has been hurt all year, Hahn is in Colorado, and Eovaldi is in Baltimore. As a result, Jesse Biddle has resurfaced for the first time since carrying a 5.18 ERA for Atlanta in 2020. Biddle isn't striking anybody out, but he's not walking too many guys either. Merely staying in games with a 4.70 ERA has allowed the bullpen and offense to take over and Biddle is 4-4. Considering the alternative, he's been just what the Yankees have needed.
Former 23rd round pick Evan Mendoza has been just what Houston has needed. Never expected to be anything more than Triple-A depth, Houston's rebuild and lack of investment in pitchers has thrust him to the majors. Instead of being shelled like Houston's staff was all last season, Mendoza has worked to a very solid 3.97 ERA. While that mark has come with a negative WAR as Mendoza has the sixth lowest strikeout rate of qualified pitchers in the American League, it's still allowed Houston to stay in games Mendoza has pitched. Like Biddle, Mendoza has an even win-loss mark at 3-3.
Houston has helped Mendoza and their entire staff by having the highest zone rating, the most outfield assists, and the second fewest errors in the American League. Connor Uselton already has 10 outfield assists, putting him six behind Mookie Betts' AL record of 16 set in 2018. Leonardo Gonzalez is a Gold Glove candidate in Center Field, and the team has no real defensive weak points anywhere in the field. Combined with a weak AL West, that's helped put Houston on top. They'll get a chance to prove they belong there tonight.
Questions for the GMs:
For Andrew Sutphin, you're in a weird situation with an expensive roster going through a rebuild, however one that leads your division. What will be your goal for the remaining four months of the season?
The Yankees have an excellent offense and bullpen. What do you think your team needs to do to get the win?
Connor Uselton is such an interesting player. He's only getting on base at a .249 clip for you, and he's on pace to have the fifth most strikeouts in AL history. However, he also has 13 home runs and is on pace to shatter the outfield assists record for Right Fielder. What do you make of such an extreme player?
For Greg Masceri, you were staring at financial peril in the offseason, but you still have a competitive team. How've you been able to manage that?
You've given Hyo-Jun Park the majority of starts at Second Base. The defense has been good, but he's slugging .288. Will you go back to Jorge Polanco if Park doesn't hit better?
Your Center Field defense has been pitiful with Kelenic in Center Field. Is that something you feel you're just going to have to live with?
TRIVIA: Who has the most strikeouts in a season in Houston Astros history?
HOU: Evan Mendoza (3-3, 3.97)
NYY: Jesse Biddle (4-4, 4.70)
Despite a rough pair of weeks, the New York Yankees are still in the thick of the AL playoff picture, relying on a strong offense and a dominant bullpen. They'll face a Houston Astros club that improbably leads the AL West tonight in the Game of the Week.
The Yankees have finalized optimized a strategy they wanted to rely on the last few years. While the club is 8th in runs, they're only 11 away from first place Toronto for most runs in the AL. The club is first in OPS with a slugging-rich offense and an ascending Jared Kelenic leading the way.
After perplexing struggles the past two years, the Yankees are complimenting that offense with the best bullpen in the American League. Aroldis Chapman has his best walk rate since 2019 and he hasn't allowed a home run, resulting in 13 saves in 14 attempts. Giovanny Gallegos has built upon a pair of excellent years to post a 0.96 ERA thus far. Jorge Guzman has reduced his ERA from the mid-4s to the mid-2. Nick Rumbelos has put a disastrous 2022 behind him, and Freicer Perez has agreed with his move to the pen.
This how the club can overcome a starting staff that's been devastated by a ballooning payroll, age, and injuries. As recently as 2021, the Yankees could have relied on names like Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Jesse Hahn, and Nathan Eovaldi. Tanaka is a Free Agent coming off a bad season with the White Sox, Severino has been hurt all year, Hahn is in Colorado, and Eovaldi is in Baltimore. As a result, Jesse Biddle has resurfaced for the first time since carrying a 5.18 ERA for Atlanta in 2020. Biddle isn't striking anybody out, but he's not walking too many guys either. Merely staying in games with a 4.70 ERA has allowed the bullpen and offense to take over and Biddle is 4-4. Considering the alternative, he's been just what the Yankees have needed.
Former 23rd round pick Evan Mendoza has been just what Houston has needed. Never expected to be anything more than Triple-A depth, Houston's rebuild and lack of investment in pitchers has thrust him to the majors. Instead of being shelled like Houston's staff was all last season, Mendoza has worked to a very solid 3.97 ERA. While that mark has come with a negative WAR as Mendoza has the sixth lowest strikeout rate of qualified pitchers in the American League, it's still allowed Houston to stay in games Mendoza has pitched. Like Biddle, Mendoza has an even win-loss mark at 3-3.
Houston has helped Mendoza and their entire staff by having the highest zone rating, the most outfield assists, and the second fewest errors in the American League. Connor Uselton already has 10 outfield assists, putting him six behind Mookie Betts' AL record of 16 set in 2018. Leonardo Gonzalez is a Gold Glove candidate in Center Field, and the team has no real defensive weak points anywhere in the field. Combined with a weak AL West, that's helped put Houston on top. They'll get a chance to prove they belong there tonight.
Questions for the GMs:
For Andrew Sutphin, you're in a weird situation with an expensive roster going through a rebuild, however one that leads your division. What will be your goal for the remaining four months of the season?
The Yankees have an excellent offense and bullpen. What do you think your team needs to do to get the win?
Connor Uselton is such an interesting player. He's only getting on base at a .249 clip for you, and he's on pace to have the fifth most strikeouts in AL history. However, he also has 13 home runs and is on pace to shatter the outfield assists record for Right Fielder. What do you make of such an extreme player?
For Greg Masceri, you were staring at financial peril in the offseason, but you still have a competitive team. How've you been able to manage that?
You've given Hyo-Jun Park the majority of starts at Second Base. The defense has been good, but he's slugging .288. Will you go back to Jorge Polanco if Park doesn't hit better?
Your Center Field defense has been pitiful with Kelenic in Center Field. Is that something you feel you're just going to have to live with?
TRIVIA: Who has the most strikeouts in a season in Houston Astros history?
