Masahiro Tanaka Looking To Close Out The First -Half On A High Note As New York Takes On Milwaukee
It's hard to believe but today we reach the halfway point of the season before the all-star break as Masahiro Tanaka who recently has turned the corner starts the series finale for New York against Milwaukee at Yankee Stadium.
With Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka appearing to be back on track and Brewers ace Jimmy Nelson winning four of his past five decisions, both teams will have their aces on the mound for the final game of the three-game set today at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196836/nelson-tanaka-tabbed-to-close-out-1st-half/?topicId=26688732
Tanaka (7-7, 5.25 ERA) has a 2.56 ERA over his past five outings -- four of which were quality starts -- after going through the worst stretch of his career. In seven starts from May 2-June 6, Tanaka posted a 2-5 record with an 8.50 ERA, allowing 14 homers. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196836/nelson-tanaka-tabbed-to-close-out-1st-half/?topicId=26688732
Nelson (7-4, 3.20 ERA), meanwhile, has been the stronghold for a Brewers pitching staff that ranks in the top five in ERA in the National League. "accordinghttp://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196836/nelson-tanaka-tabbed-to-close-out-1st-half/?topicId=26688732 to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196836/nelson-tanaka-tabbed-to-close-out-1st-half/?topicId=26688732
Entering Sunday, Nelson ranked among the top 10 of NL qualifiers in ERA, Wins Above Replacement, strikeouts per nine innings and strikeout to walk ratio -- the last of which is remarkable, considering he led the Majors last season in walks. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196836/nelson-tanaka-tabbed-to-close-out-1st-half/?topicId=26688732
"My stuff's not that much different," said Nelson, who credited myriad factors for his improvement, including more first-pitch strikes, a better gap between his fastball and offspeed stuff and help from catchers Manny Pina and Stephen Vogt.
He added: "Confidence builds the more you have good outings. Some of my best outings, I've felt like my effort level was minimal. It's weird. This season has really proved to me that the less I try to do with my delivery, the better my stuff is."http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196836/nelson-tanaka-tabbed-to-close-out-1st-half/?topicId=26688732
Things to know about this game
• Tanaka ranks second among Yankees pitchers with 98 strikeouts this season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196836/nelson-tanaka-tabbed-to-close-out-1st-half/?topicId=26688732
• Nelson's strikeout-to-walk ratio has improved from 1.63 last season to 4.48 this year. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196836/nelson-tanaka-tabbed-to-close-out-1st-half/?topicId=26688732
• Tanaka has allowed 11 more home runs than Nelson this season. Both pitchers will be making their 18th start of the year. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196836/nelson-tanaka-tabbed-to-close-out-1st-half/?topicId=26688732
As for New York's last game, they got back in the win column Saturday thanks to rookie Clint Frazier.
What has been a disappointing couple weeks for New York turned into a celebration on Saturday afternoon in the Bronx thanks to rookie left -fielder Clint Frazier!
Clint Frazier made it a one-run game with a triple in the seventh inning, and he delivered a walk-off, three-run home run with one out in the ninth, giving the Yankees a 5-3 win over the Brewers on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196828/clint-frazier-walks-yankees-off-vs-brewers/
Frazier's first career walk-off hit came against the Brewers' All-Star closer, Corey Knebel who put himself in trouble by walking Didi Gregorious leading off the inning and Jacoby Ellsbury with one out. Knebel fell behind Frazier with a curveball in the dirt before throwing the fastball that ended the game. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196828/clint-frazier-walks-yankees-off-vs-brewers/
Brent Suter delivered another quality start for the Brewers without touching 90 mph, and Domingo's Santana's three-run home run in the first inning provided a lead that lasted into the ninth. Santana's first-inning homer represented the only damage against Yankees All-StarLuis Severino over seven innings. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196828/clint-frazier-walks-yankees-off-vs-brewers/
Suter surrendered two singles through six scoreless innings, but his outing suddenly went south in the seventh. Chase Headley hit a ground-rule double and moved to third on Ellsbury's single before Suter's errant pickoff attempt allowed Headley to score. Frazier followed with a run-scoring triple that just missed being a tying home run. With a runner on third and only one out, the Brewers turned to sinkerballer, Jared Hughes who escaped by inducing Ji -Man -Choi's groundout to a drawn-in infield and getting Ronald Torreyes to pop out. Hughes has allowed one earned run over 15 innings in his past 16 games. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196828/clint-frazier-walks-yankees-off-vs-brewers/
The Yankee Stadium faithful made their displeasure known when the Brewers jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. With two outs, Travis Shaw lobbied plate umpire Mike Estabrook that an inside pitch had grazed his jersey. Estabrook agreed and sent Shaw to first base, to the ire of Yankees manager Joe Girardi. He challenged, but the call stood upon replay review. Two pitches later, Santana smacked his opposite-field home run to the short porch in right field. The Brewers have outscored opponents in the first inning this season, 78-44. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/241196828/clint-frazier-walks-yankees-off-vs-brewers/
New York improves to 45-40 while Milwaukee drops to 49-41 on the season. New York is now 4.0 games back of their American League East rival Boston who is leading the division.
New York will look to take the series from Milwaukee Sunday before the all-star break as they will send right -hander Masahiro Tanaka to the mound. He has a record of 7-7 with a 5.25 earn run average. Tanaka has strung together three great starts after an uncharacteristically bad stretch before them, leading the Yankees to believe he has worked through his funk. Over his last outings, he's posted a 2-0 record with a 1.29 earn run average. He will go up against Milwaukee right -hander Jimmy Nelson who has a record of 7-4 with a 3.20 earn run average. Nelson has struck out eight batters in each of his last four starts, including a 6-2 win over the Orioles on Tuesday. He didn't allow an earned run over seven quality innings and did not walk a batter for the fifth time this year. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/brewers-vs-yankees/2017/07/09/491429#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491429
Will Masahiro Tanaka finish the first half of the season strong? Will Clint Frazier who put the exclamation point on New York's comeback win get a hit or hit another home run? Will the New York offense be able to back up Masahiro Tanaka's start? Will Milwaukee be able to get their offense going against Masahiro Tanaka?
First pitch is set for 1:05 pm. The game will be televised on Yes." according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/brewers-vs-yankees/2017/07/09/491429#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491429