Yanks Snap Losing Streak, Look For Sweep
Having menaced them for nearly two decades, Derek Jeter will say farewell to the Mets on Thursday.
The New York Yankees put the halters on a recent run of poor form in the Subway Series, defeating the New York Mets 4-0 on Wednesday and snapping a six-game losing streak against their crosstown rivals.
Now they’ll look to make it two in a row as the two sides play their final head-to-head matchup of the season on Thursday.
Opening pitch at Citi Field is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
After the two sides combined for 47 hits, 35 runs, nine home runs and one grand slam in two games at Yankee Stadium earlier this week, offense took a back seat to pitching in Wednesday’s game in Queens, N.Y.
As has been the case for much of the early part of this season, Masahiro Tanaka (6-0, 2.17 ERA) was once more the hero for the Yankees as he racked up a number of firsts.
The Japanese star recorded his first major league shutout, allowing just four hits and no walks as he struck out eight batters. He also recorded his first complete game, going nine innings when the Yankee bullpen needed it the most. And to add to all of this, he recorded his first major league hit, tapping Jose Valverde for a single in the ninth.
With the victory, Tanaka became the first rookie pitcher for the Yankees to start the year 6-0 since 1950, the year that Hall of Famer Whitey Ford went 9-0 and won a World Series title.
Another Yankee rookie also had something to smile about after Wednesday’s game. Third baseman Yangervis Solarte went 1-for-3 with a walk, hitting a home run and scoring twice. The surprising replacement for Alex Rodriguez currently leads the American League with a .336 batting average.
Meanwhile, Mark Teixiera hit his eighth home run in 15 games, and looks to have shaken off any residual effect from last year’s wrist injury.
For the Mets, there were a few bright spots. Making his major league debut, Rafael Montero (0-1, 4.50 ERA) showed signs of a bright future, allowing just five hits. Unfortunately for the 23-year-old, two of those cleared Citi Field’s expansive fences.
As suspected, after tallying 21 runs at Yankee Stadium this week, the sizable dimensions of their home park inhibited the Mets’ offensive prowess. That and Tanaka’s dominant pitching.
The Yankees (20-19, 11-9 road) will now look to return the favor and sweep the Mets (19-20, 9-11 home) on the road.
The pitching story will likely be very different on Thursday though.
With C.C. Sabathia (knee), Michael Pineda (back) and Ivan Nova (elbow) out of the starting rotation, the Yankees will call up Chase Whitley (0-0, 0.00 ERA) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The 24-year-old right-hander has recorded a 3-2 record in seven games with the RailRiders, tallying a 2.39 ERA in the process. In 26 1/3 innings he’s allowed 20 hits, seven runs and seven walks, while striking out 32.
Whitley won’t be the only new face on the field Thursday either.
For the second straight night the Mets will send a debutant to the mound. After Montero’s good performance on Wednesday, 25-year-old Jacob deGrom (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will look to put in a similar performance, with a different result.
deGrom, a right-hander, has gone 4-0 with a 2.58 ERA in seven games with Triple-A Las Vegas. In 38 1/3 innings he’s allowed 13 runs on 39 hits, with 10 walks and 29 strikeouts.
While the pitching matchup will certainly be about fresh-faced youngsters, there’s one old-timer that will be the focus of Thursday’s game.
Providing the Yankees and Mets don’t meet in the World Series, Derek Jeter will play his last game against the Mets on Thursday. The blue and orange side of New York will say goodbye (and good riddance) with a pre-game ceremony, while The Captain would like to say goodbye to the Mets with a hit or two, something that he’s not found too difficult over the years; Jeter has batted .370 in his career against the Mets, sending 15 home runs out of the park in the process.
Jacob deGrom will be one of two call-ups making their debut on Thursday.
New York Yankees vs. New York Mets odds for 05/15/2014
With two unknown commodities taking to the mound, the betting lines for the final Subway Series game of 2014 are as up-in-the-air as you’re likely to find them.
Both the Yankees and Mets are favorites, depending which sportsbook you choose, and neither is favored by much.
The Mets have had the better of the series of late, recording six straight wins before the Yanks snapped that streak last night. This one will likely come down to which rookie pitcher survives longest; and whether the Mets can find any offense.
The total opened at 8.
The over has paid out in six of the Yankees’ last seven games, the one exception being last night’s low-scorer at Citi Field. The under has paid out in eight of the last 12 at Citi Field, which would certainly make it a smart bet on Thursday. That is if those rookie pitchers can keep the ball away from the bet.
Really, this is a pick’em all the way. Just try to pick wisely.
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For a full list of today’s Major League Baseball odds, click here.
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For player prop bets, click here.
