After Sonny Gray allowed four runs on three dingers last night, Masahiro Tanaka is trusted to be the stopper today against Boston.
Embed from Getty ImagesTanaka has been a completely different pitcher since the All-Star break. After a 5.47 ERA in 18 first-half starts, the Japanese right-hander has pitched to a much-improved 2.96 ERA through seven second-half starts. He looks to build on his impressive August 27 start against Seattle, where he allowed just one earned run over seven innings.
Tanaka’s counterpart will be lefty Drew Pomeranz. Pomeranz has not been charged with a loss since June 11. Since that outing, he carries a 2.31 ERA in 14 starts. He is 2-0 with a 3.43 ERA in four starts against the Yankees this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Yankee lineup has been adjusted because of a freak incident with Starlin Castro. The Yankee second baseman had to have an emergency root canal, and cannot start in today’s game. Manager Joe Girardi said he is available off the bench.
Starting Lineups
Boston Red Sox
- Eduardo Núñez – SS
- Andrew Benintendi – LF
- Mookie Betts – RF
- Mitch Moreland – 1B
- Hanley Ramírez – DH
- Rafael Devers – 3B
- Christian Vazquez – C
- Jackie Bradley Jr. – CF
- Tzu-Wei Lin – 2B
Drew Pomeranz – P
New York Yankees
- Brett Gardner – LF
- Aaron Hicks – CF
- Gary Sánchez – C
- Aaron Judge – RF
- Didi Gregorius – SS
- Chase Headley – 3B
- Matt Holliday – DH
- Greg Bird – 1B
- Ronald Torreyes – 2B
Masahiro Tanaka – P
