White Sox at Yankees
Rookie outfielder Eloy Jimenez is making a strong first impression in the majors and thoroughly enjoyed his first taste of the Big Apple. Jimenez will try to follow up an impressive New York debut and lead the Chicago White Sox to a second straight win when they visit the Yankees for the second of a three-game series on Saturday.
Jimenez, who made history when he agreed to a six-year, $43 million contract before even making his major league debut, hit the first two home runs of his career on Friday to lead Chicago to a 9-6 win in a seven-inning, rain-shortened series opener. The 22-year-old Dominican Republic native blasted a go-ahead two-run shot in the fifth to center and lifted a 446-foot blast between the rain drops in the seventh inning to provide some insurance before the contest was washed out. The Yankees are suddenly slumping with losses in four straight and an ever-expanding injury list that added catcher Gary Sanchez (calf) on Friday. New York will take one player off that list when left-hander CC Sabathia makes his season debut opposite former Yankees righty Ivan Nova on Saturday.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Ivan Nova (0-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2018: 9-7, 3.65)
Nova got off to a strong start in his Chicago debut, holding the Cleveland Indians to one run over seven innings in a no-decision on April 1, but was not as sharp last time out. The Dominican Republic native was ripped for seven runs on as many hits in 2 1/3 innings to suffer a loss against Seattle on Sunday. Nova, who spent the first 6 1/2 seasons of his career in New York, is 27-19 with a 4.35 ERA in 67 career games - 62 starts - at Yankee Stadium.
Sabathia is making his first start of his final season after announcing his retirement and going through a heart procedure over the winter. The 38-year-old, who also battled a knee injury during spring training, is the active major league leader in wins (246) and strikeouts (2,986), and his 3.65 ERA last season was his best mark since 2012. Sabathia went 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two starts against Chicago last season, posting 18 strikeouts in 11 2/3 total innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees 2B DJ LeMahieu went 2-for-2 on Friday to raise his batting average to .439.
2. White Sox SS Tim Anderson is 16-for-29 over the last seven games.
3. New York RHP Dellin Betances (shoulder) experienced a setback in his rehab after pitching a simulated game on Thursday and will be shut down for three weeks.