The New York Yankees (22-18, 11-9 away) meet up with the Texas Rangers (18-24, 9-10 home) for a four-game series beginning Monday night. Monday’s contest will be the first meeting this season between the two American League foes.
The first pitch for Monday night’s contest is at 8:05 p.m. EST at Global Life Field in Arlington, TX. According to oddsmakers, New York is a heavy favorite (-280), and the run total is at 8.
What to Know – New York Yankees
New York enters the new week winners of six of its last eight games, including two of three from the Baltimore Orioles this weekend. The Yankees are in game seven of a ten-game road swing that concludes on Thursday. New York finds itself two games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East standings.
The Yankees have ace Gerrit Cole (5-1, 1.37 ERA, 0.68 WHIP) on the mound, looking to extend his winning streak to four games. Cole has kept up his stellar play on the hill this season, logging 52.2 innings of work with only eight earned runs allowed. The 30-year old was fantastic in his last start, pitching 8.0 innings, scattering four hits, no earned runs while striking out 12.
New York scores 4.1 runs per game while batting .225 as a team. Sluggers Aaron Judge (.298 avg., 12 HRs, 24 RBIs) and Giancarlo Stanton (.282 avg., 9 HRs, 24 RBIs) are both posting excellent numbers at this dish through the first month in a half of play. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu leads the Yankees in hits (41) and runs scored (27).
What to Know – Texas Rangers
The Rangers carry a six-game losing streak into Monday night’s tilt. Texas lost every game of its recent road stretch, including four against instate Houston. The Rangers find themselves at the bottom of the AL West standings.
On the hill for the Rangers is right-hander Jordan Lyles (1-3, 6.63 ERA, 1.61 WHIP). Lyles has struggled this season, pitching 38.0 innings while conceding 28 earned runs. The 30-year old pieced together one of his better starts of the season in his last outing, tossing 5.0 innings, with two hits and two earned runs.
Texas plates 4.2 runs per game and has a .241 team batting average. Right fielder Adolis Garcia has burst onto the MLB scene this season, hitting .289 with a team-high ten home runs and 27 RBIs. Utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa is also putting together a surprise season, batting a team-best .293 with 49 hits, including five home runs.
The Pick is In
Monday’s contest is a tale of two teams currently heading in opposite directions. The Yankees were without Stanton on Sunday as the veteran battles a quad injury. Even if Stanton can’t play, the Yankees have enough firepower in the lineup to battle Lyles.
The Rangers would love to end their six-game skid in the opener, but facing one of the best pitchers in major league baseball is a challenging task to take on. Yankees take this one and win it by three or four runs.
The Pick: New York Yankees -1.5
