Yankees at Dodgers
The New York Yankees halted their four-game losing streak in an impressive manner and look to defeat the host Los Angeles Dodgers again on Saturday in the middle contest of their three-game set. Didi Gregorius collected five RBIs on a grand slam and a solo shot as New York went deep five times overall while shellacking Los Angeles 10-2 in the series opener.
Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres also homered as New York raised its total in August to 57, setting a franchise record for most in any month while moving within one of the major-league mark shared by the Baltimore Orioles (May 1987) and Seattle Mariners (May 1999). Torres has gone deep 12 times in 74 at-bats this month and has hit 32 blasts on the season. The loss dropped Los Angeles' lead over the Yankees for the best record in the majors - and home-field advantage throughout the postseason - to one game. The blowout defeat marked the second time in eight contests the Dodgers allowed a double-digit run output, with the other being a 13-7 loss to Miami on Aug. 15.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1, YES (New York), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (5-7, 5.01 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Tony Gonsolin (1-1, 3.00)
Sabathia returned from the injured list due to knee tendinitis on Sunday and gave up four runs and four hits over three innings in a loss to Cleveland. The 39-year-old has lost three straight starts and is winless over his last five turns - a stretch during which he has served up 10 home runs. Sabathia is 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA in three career starts against Los Angeles, including a 1.20 ERA and a victory in two appearances at Dodger Stadium.
Gonsolin will be making his fourth major-league start and fifth appearance. The 25-year-old lasted just four innings against Atlanta on Sunday, when he gave up one run and five hits. Gonsolin yielded two hits over six scoreless frames en route to victory against St. Louis on Aug. 5 in his lone appearance at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Sanchez's homer was his 100th in 355 career games, moving him past Mike Piazza (422 contests) as the fastest to reach the century mark among catchers.
2. Los Angeles struck out 15 times in the series opener, with C Will Smith (four) and RF Cody Bellinger (three) accounting for nearly half of them.
3. New York claimed Cory Gearrin off waivers from Seattle and released fellow RHP Domingo Acevedo.