Astros at Yankees
The New York Yankees bludgeoned the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Wednesday afternoon to complete an impressive sweep, opening up their largest lead in the AL East this season. They may add another big piece to their potent lineup in the form of slugger Aaron Judge during the big four-game series with the visiting Houston Astros that starts on Thursday.
Judge (oblique) was set to finish his rehab stint with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and may return by Friday to a team that is averaging 7.8 runs during its five-game winning streak. Gleyber Torres slugged a grand slam and Gary Sanchez added a three-run shot to go with an RBI double in New York's 12-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays and ace Blake Snell on Wednesday. The surging Yankees, who own a 3 1/2-game lead over the Rays, are getting the Astros at a good time as the AL West leaders have lost a season-high four in a row, including three straight by one run in Cincinnati. Star second baseman Jose Altuve returned from a hamstring injury for the Astros but went 0-for-4 in a 3-2 loss to the Reds on Wednesday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Framber Valdez (3-2, 2.77 ERA) vs Yankees RH Chad Green (1-2, 7.54)
Valdez is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in three games (two starts) this month after defeating Toronto on Saturday with six solid innings. He has 18 strikeouts in 17 innings during that stretch while limiting opponents to just 11 hits. The 25-year-old will be making his debut against the Yankees.
Green will act as the opener for the third straight time, producing two scoreless innings in each of his last two outings in a starting role. He owns a 3.52 ERA in five starts on the season, compared to a 9.60 mark in 17 games out of the bullpen. Lefty Nestor Cortes Jr., who got the win with five innings of two-run ball behind Green his last time out, is a candidate to pick up some innings in relief.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros LF Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer Wednesday and is 8-for-15 during his four-game hitting streak.
2. Sanchez has nine RBIs over his last four games.
3. Houston swept a three-game series from New York at home earlier this season.