Yankees at White Sox
The New York Yankees are suddenly trying to find a way to get outs as they struggle to stay with the Tampa Bay Rays atop the American League East. The Yankees will try to snap a three-game slide and cut down on the runs allowed when they visit the Chicago White Sox for the third of a four-game series on Sunday.
New York pitching allowed at least five runs in each of the last seven games, going 2-5 in that span, and was crushed 10-2 on Friday as CC Sabathia was rocked for six runs - five earned - and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings. Doing the bulk of the damage for the White Sox on Friday was rookie slugger Eloy Jimenez, who belted a pair of home runs and finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and six RBIs. The 22-year-old slugger owns five homers in the last six games and four of his 11 homers this season have come against the Yankees. Jimenez will take his cuts against the New York bullpen on Sunday as it sends an opener to the mound to square off against Chicago right-hander Reynaldo Lopez.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Chad Green (1-2, 8.27 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (4-6, 6.21)
Green has served as an opener in four of his 21 appearances this season and owns a 4.76 ERA in 5 2/3 innings in that role. The 28-year-old got the start at Cleveland on Sunday and surrendered one hit while striking out three in two scoreless frames. Luis Cessa would have been another candidate to start on Saturday but was forced into duty due to Sabathia's brief outing on Friday and was reached for four runs on five hits in one frame.
Lopez pulled out of a rough patch by holding the Kansas City Royals to one run and four hits over six innings to earn a win on Sunday. The 25-year-old Dominican was lit up for a total of 19 runs and 24 hits in 13 1/3 innings over his three previous starts. Lopez had little trouble in two starts against New York last season, allowing a total of two runs and nine hits in 14 innings while striking out 12.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton (biceps, shoulder) homered four times in three rehab games this week and is expected to rejoin the team on Monday.
2. White Sox 3B Yoan Moncada (back) sat out the last three games and is day-to-day.
3. New York CF Aaron Hicks is 3-for-23 over the last six games, lowering his batting average to .209.