New York @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2010 ) NY Yankees 3, Oakland 1
There’s been a constant theme during the New York Yankees’ six-game winning streak that has elevated the squad to the best record in baseball: excellent starting pitching.
Entering Thursday’s series finale against the Oakland Athletics, the Yankees have outscored their opponents 33-12 during the winning streak and have allowed three or fewer runs in each of the six victories.
It’s CC Sabathia’s turn to see if he can keep the streak going when New York goes for the series sweep against the A’s on Thursday. Sabathia already has turned in one stellar outing during this stretch, limiting Texas to one run and three hits last Friday. Sabathia struck out nine and didn’t issue a walk.
Sabathia has big shoes to fill after Phil Hughes’ outing on Tuesday. Hughes allowed just one infield single in 7 1/3innings as the Yankees improved to 11-3, a half-game better than Tampa Bay and Minnesota (both 11-4) for best record in the majors.
Hughes’ no-hit bid was broken up in the eighth inning, the same frame in which Sabathia lost a no-hitter against Tampa Bay on April 10. In fact, Sabathia has allowed just four hits over 13 2/3 innings in his last two starts.
Even with a shaky Opening Night outing against Boston, Sabathia’s earned-run average is at 2.84 and he has 18 strikeouts and just four walks in 19 innings.
A.J. Burnett (seven shutout innings against Texas) and Andy Pettitte (two runs and four hits over eight innings vs. the Rangers) also provided top-notch performances during the winning streak.
The pitching has helped New York win its first five series of the season, tying the franchise record set by the 1926 team. The Yankees are 7-1 against American League West teams this season.
Oakland will throw a hot starting pitcher against the Yankees in left-hander Dallas Braden, who has a 2.70 ERA in 20 innings.
Braden struck out 10 Seattle hitters in seven innings in his season debut in a no-decision and has since defeated the Angels and Baltimore. Braden has 16 strikeouts against just three walks.
The A’s, after a strong start, have lost three consecutive games. They are also dealing with a slew of recent injuries.
Starting second baseman Mark Ellis became the sixth Oakland player currently on the disabled list when the team placed him on the DL on Wednesday. Ellis had played the night before after missing more than a week with a hamstring injury and discovered that the ailment wasn’t cured.
While first baseman Daric Barton (elbow) was able to avoid missing any time, left fielder Travis Buck (oblique) was scratched from Wednesday’s game.
Also, leadoff hitter Rajai Davis is mired in a deep slump and wasn’t in the lineup Wednesday. Davis has just six hits in his last 43 at-bats as his batting average has fallen from .375 to .224.
Davis does have seven steals and has scored 12 runs but he has a dismal .246 on-base percentage.