Yankees at Athletics
It has been a challenge for New York's Domingo German to stay healthy during his professional baseball career and because of that, the right-hander will probably head into uncharted territory Tuesday. German takes the ball 3 2/3 innings shy of reaching a career high for a season when he tries for his 17th victory as the Yankees begin a nine-game West Coast swing with the first of three against the Oakland Athletics.
It doesn't appear New York will restrict German's innings despite owning a big lead in the American League East and the best record in baseball (83-43) with general manager Brian Cashman telling reporters "he's already had a timeout'' after the undrafted 27-year-old missed more than three weeks in June and early July because of a left hip flexor strain. German and the rest of the Yankees pitchers have benefited from the most prolific offense in baseball (5.9 runs per game) with red-hot DJ LeMahieu (major league-best .339 average) going 11-for-26 and recording three home runs and six RBIs in his last six games. Oakland, which trails Tampa Bay by one game for the final AL wild card spot, sends Homer Bailey to the mound as the right-hander comes off his best start in an Athletics uniform. Oakland began its nine-game homestand in impressive fashion, winning three of four from AL West-leading Houston, while first baseman Matt Olson has registered four two-hit games in his last five contests after going 2-for-4 in Sunday's 4-1 loss.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, ESPN; YES (New York), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Domingo German (16-2, 3.96 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Homer Bailey (10-8, 5.22)
German is riding a four-game winning streak after yielding two runs and five hits while striking out seven in seven innings of an 8-3 victory over Baltimore last Tuesday. The Dominican native hasn't lost in eight starts (7-0) with the no-decision (eight runs allowed against Minnesota) the biggest reason his ERA rose by 0.10 during that span. German is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts versus Oakland with Khris Davis, Robbie Grossman and Jurickson Profar all taking him deep.
Bailey permitted two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in seven shutout innings of a 9-5 victory at San Francisco on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Texan was 2-2 with a 7.86 ERA in his first five starts with the Athletics. Cameron Maybin is 5-for-12 with a home run and two walks against Bailey, who is 2-1 with a 4.42 ERA in three starts versus the Yankees after pitching six strong innings in a 6-1 victory April 18 while a member of the Kansas City Royals.
WALK-OFFS
1. LeMahieu (career highs of 21 home runs, 86 RBIs) has gone deep in each of the last two games.
2. Oakland 3B Matt Chapman (club bests of 29 HRs, 70 RBIs) is 9-for-20 with four home runs, five RBIs and eight runs in his last five contests.
3. The Athletics have lost only one season series to New York since 2011, going 5-1-1 while winning 29 of 46 games. The clubs complete their 2019 set on Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at Yankee Stadium.