Yankees at Tigers (Game 1)
The New York Yankees started off their 10-game road trip by winning three of four in Boston but they have not enjoyed their brief stay in Detroit, blowing a six-run lead in a 12-11 loss to the worst team in the majors in the series opener. Rain then washed out Wednesday night's game, forcing the Yankees and host Tigers to play a straight doubleheader Thursday afternoon.
New York clubbed six homers -- two each by Brett Gardner and Didi Gregorius -- in Tuesday's loss to give them a franchise-record 276 on the season, second only to the Minnesota Twins. One positive for the Yankees: They are 11-1 in doubleheaders this season as they prepare to play their seventh twin-bill. Christin Stewart has homered in three of the past four contests while Harold Castro is 12-for-25 with six RBIs over his past six games for the Tigers, who are 19-50 at home. Detroit's Matthew Boyd will oppose fellow left-hander J.A. Happ in Game 1 on Thursday before Tigers righty Spencer Turnbull squares off against CC Sabathia 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opening contest.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH J.A. Happ (12-8, 5.10 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (8-10, 4.57)
Happ turned in another stellar outing at Boston last time out, blanking the Red Sox on two hits over 6 1/3 innings to extend his scoreless streak to 15 1/3 innings. The 36-year-old had to settle for a no-decision against Oakland in his previous turn despite allowing one hit over six scoreless frames and has permitted only five hits over 17 1/3 innings spanning his last three starts. Miguel Cabrera has only three singles in 16 at-bats versus Happ, who is 1-1 with a 4.99 ERA in five starts at Comerica Park.
Boyd was 0-4 in his first nine starts following the All-Star break before winning each of his last two trips to the mound, giving up three runs and 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings at Kansas City on Thursday after striking out 11 over six innings of five-run ball versus Minnesota on Aug. 31. The 28-year-old had a dominant performance in a no-decision at Yankee Stadium on April 3, striking out a season-high 13 and yielding one run and five hits over 6 1/3 innings. Gregorius is 2-for-2 with a double against Boyd.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees CF Aaron Hicks (elbow) is done for the season and could still face Tommy John surgery.
2. Tigers CF Victor Reyes has hit safely in 12 consecutive games.
3. Gardner went deep for the first two times in 27 games at Comerica Park on Tuesday to set a career high with his 22nd and 23rd homers.