W2W4: Detroit Tigers vs New York Yankees

nydailynews.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

August 9-11^th, 2013

W2W4: Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees

The New York Yankees will be heading back home to start a weekend series against the Detroit Tigers on Friday night, licking their wounds a bit from being swept in Chicago by the White Sox. Entering the series, the Yankees are (57-56) on the season, and a losing series against the Tigers would move the Yankees to either .500 or below

- Pitching Match-Ups

Opening the Series on Friday night for the Yankees will be one of their better Pitchers of late in Ivan Nova (5-4, 3.08), and he will be facing a Pitcher who has also been throwing the ball well lately in Rick Porcello (8-6, 4.28). In Game 2 the Yankees will have the tough task of facing Anibal Sanchez (9-7, 2.58), and he will be facing the struggling Phil Hughes (4-10, 4.87). Game 3 on paper also looks to be a tough one for the Yankees, as Andy Pettitte (7-9, 4.71) will be facing former Cy Young and MVP, Justin Verlander (12-8, 3.62).

- Cheer or Boo

Yankees Third Baseman Alex Rodriguez will be making his home debut, and the big question is how will Yankees fans react to him being back in pinstripes. Rodriguez had a pretty good series in Chicago, as he went three for 11 with two walks. He didn’t look to rusty, but to think that Rodriguez is going to be the power hitter that he once was seems very unlikely at this point.

- Snap the Streak

The Tigers are the hottest team in baseball right now coming into the Bronx riding a 12-game winning streak. Most impressively for the Tigers was their most recent series in Cleveland against the Indians, as Detroit swept them on the road, which helped them extend their division lead.

- Not Looking Good

As it's is always for the Yankees their goal is to make the playoffs, but this year they are just one game over .500, and after being swept by a bad team in Chicago, the Yankees need to start winning or their playoff hopes will be over soon. The division seems impossible for the Yankees to get, as they are now 11 games back of the Boston Red Sox. The two Wild Card spots in the AL are still very much within grasp for the Yankees, as they are just seven games back, but with a lot of teams in front of them.