Post by Commissioner Erick on Apr 22, 2020 11:26:16 GMT -5
New York Yankees (66-46) @ Chicago White Sox (61-51)
NYY: Freicer Perez (7-1, 2.54)
CHW: Aaron Nola (5-4, 4.16)
The Chicago White Sox have twice lost to the New York Yankees in the ALDS during their terrific five-year run as one of the premier teams in the American League. Mired in an underwhelming 2023, they'll need a strong series against the Yankees should they want to see anybody in this year's ALDS. The two AL powerhouses will square off in the Game of the Week.
The Yankees are no strangers to competing in brutal division races. Despite making the playoffs four of the past six years and earning two trips to the World Series in that span, New York has only won its division once. However, Chicago has earned postseason trips the past five years, has a title to its name, and has only earned a Wild Card bid once. It's not uncharted territory for the Yankees to be 2.5 back of Toronto in early August and trying to remain stable in the Wild Card race. For Chicago, being in fourth place in the AL Central, 1.5 back of a Wild Card spot, and 7 back of the division lead, is new territory.
The Yankees made a July trade to rationalize their outfield defense and get a player who isn't a pure slugger on their club. Manuel Margot pushes Dustin Fowler to left and allows Jered Kelenic to be more of a luxury than a needed player. Kelenic was activated off the IL last week after a June oblique strain, and was eased into the roster as a bench player. The Yankees still won five of six with him coming off the bench, and can deploy him as a substitute for Aaron Judge or as a DH if needed.
They'll turn to Freicer Perez to start today. This will be just the seventh regular season PBA start of his career, all coming this year. However, Perez has made three postseason starts in his career, with his very first coming in his rookie year in 2021 in Game 7 of the ALDS against the White Sox. Perez pitched a masterpiece that day, going 6.1 innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, and not allowing a single run in a Yankees Game 7 victory. This will be Perez' first start against Chicago since that fateful day that helped New York's World Series run.
The White Sox still have perhaps the best one-two combination in baseball with Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers continuing to have sensational seasons. Plus, even with a bad defense, Chicago is second in the league in run prevention. For the first time though, Chicago has had trouble putting up offense around the two stars.
Brendan McKay's injury eliminated a steady contributor from Chicago's offense, and the downgrade from Yoan Moncada to Shane Shifflett has been steep. Dansby Swanson struggled in the playoffs, but was an All-Star caliber offensive player who is no longer around, and Corey Ray has picked an awful time to have a terrible season. With Ryan Lillard also injured, Chicago has been searching for answers.
They're hoping Ian Happ can help provide some. Happ has had a long history in the league since placing as the 54th best prospect in 2017. He was part of the Chris Sale return for Boston in 2018, then was shipped to Cleveland in the Jose Quintana trade. He was waived in 2021 and traded from Detroit last month. He had finally become a serviceable hitter in Detroit, blossoming into an All-Star this year. A strong second half will fulfill his destiny of being a future impact player for Chicago. A poor one and he'll continue his path as one of the game's disappointing busts.
Questions for the GM's:
For Greg Masceri, with the Margot trade and Kelenic off the IL, what will be your usual lineup going forward?
How will your team try to deal with Beinintendi and Devers?
Despite a brutal July, you signed Aaron Judge to an extension. What do you see in his future?
For Mike Ball, what did you see in Ian Happ to bring him on?
Shane Shifflett had a chance to take a starting job and run with it, but he hasn't hit this year. Does this affect your opinion of him as a future starter?
Freicer Perez has some history against your club. What are your memories of that fateful Game 7?
TRIVIA: Which pitcher on the Yankees major league roster has the most strikeouts in the WBC?
NYY: Freicer Perez (7-1, 2.54)
CHW: Aaron Nola (5-4, 4.16)
The Chicago White Sox have twice lost to the New York Yankees in the ALDS during their terrific five-year run as one of the premier teams in the American League. Mired in an underwhelming 2023, they'll need a strong series against the Yankees should they want to see anybody in this year's ALDS. The two AL powerhouses will square off in the Game of the Week.
The Yankees are no strangers to competing in brutal division races. Despite making the playoffs four of the past six years and earning two trips to the World Series in that span, New York has only won its division once. However, Chicago has earned postseason trips the past five years, has a title to its name, and has only earned a Wild Card bid once. It's not uncharted territory for the Yankees to be 2.5 back of Toronto in early August and trying to remain stable in the Wild Card race. For Chicago, being in fourth place in the AL Central, 1.5 back of a Wild Card spot, and 7 back of the division lead, is new territory.
The Yankees made a July trade to rationalize their outfield defense and get a player who isn't a pure slugger on their club. Manuel Margot pushes Dustin Fowler to left and allows Jered Kelenic to be more of a luxury than a needed player. Kelenic was activated off the IL last week after a June oblique strain, and was eased into the roster as a bench player. The Yankees still won five of six with him coming off the bench, and can deploy him as a substitute for Aaron Judge or as a DH if needed.
They'll turn to Freicer Perez to start today. This will be just the seventh regular season PBA start of his career, all coming this year. However, Perez has made three postseason starts in his career, with his very first coming in his rookie year in 2021 in Game 7 of the ALDS against the White Sox. Perez pitched a masterpiece that day, going 6.1 innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, and not allowing a single run in a Yankees Game 7 victory. This will be Perez' first start against Chicago since that fateful day that helped New York's World Series run.
The White Sox still have perhaps the best one-two combination in baseball with Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers continuing to have sensational seasons. Plus, even with a bad defense, Chicago is second in the league in run prevention. For the first time though, Chicago has had trouble putting up offense around the two stars.
Brendan McKay's injury eliminated a steady contributor from Chicago's offense, and the downgrade from Yoan Moncada to Shane Shifflett has been steep. Dansby Swanson struggled in the playoffs, but was an All-Star caliber offensive player who is no longer around, and Corey Ray has picked an awful time to have a terrible season. With Ryan Lillard also injured, Chicago has been searching for answers.
They're hoping Ian Happ can help provide some. Happ has had a long history in the league since placing as the 54th best prospect in 2017. He was part of the Chris Sale return for Boston in 2018, then was shipped to Cleveland in the Jose Quintana trade. He was waived in 2021 and traded from Detroit last month. He had finally become a serviceable hitter in Detroit, blossoming into an All-Star this year. A strong second half will fulfill his destiny of being a future impact player for Chicago. A poor one and he'll continue his path as one of the game's disappointing busts.
Questions for the GM's:
For Greg Masceri, with the Margot trade and Kelenic off the IL, what will be your usual lineup going forward?
How will your team try to deal with Beinintendi and Devers?
Despite a brutal July, you signed Aaron Judge to an extension. What do you see in his future?
For Mike Ball, what did you see in Ian Happ to bring him on?
Shane Shifflett had a chance to take a starting job and run with it, but he hasn't hit this year. Does this affect your opinion of him as a future starter?
Freicer Perez has some history against your club. What are your memories of that fateful Game 7?
TRIVIA: Which pitcher on the Yankees major league roster has the most strikeouts in the WBC?