New York @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2013 ) NY Yankees 7, Minnesota 3
After sputtering on offense, the New York Yankees have relocated their bats in the first two contests of their four-game series at Target Field. The Yankees will look to continue the trend on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins, who have lost eight of their last 11 contests. The Yankees, who have scored 17 runs in the first two games of the set, were limited to just 13 during their previous five games - all losses.
Robinson Cano continued his offensive surge, highlighting his fifth straight multi-hit game by securing his fifth consecutive 20-homer season in New York's 7-3 triumph on Tuesday. Cano is 12-for-21 with four home runs, eight RBIs and eight runs scored in his last five contests. Right-hander P.J. Walters, who has yet to face the Yankees in his career, will be presented with the assignment of slowing down Cano.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FSN North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (8-6, 4.15 ERA) vs. Twins RH P.J. Walters (2-4, 6.03)
Sabathia has dominated the Twins in his career, posting a 16-8 mark while limiting them to a .236 batting average. The hefty lefty suffered his second setback in six outings by yielding four runs on five hits over seven innings in a 4-3 loss to Baltimore. Sabathia has struggled away from home, winning just two of six decisions while his ERA rests at 4.99.
Walters has lost his last four decisions and hasn't notched a victory since winning his first two starts in late May. The 28-year-old posted his second consecutive six-run effort - with the last spanning over just three innings in a 9-3 loss to Kansas City. Walters has yielded two homers in two of his last three starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York 3B Alex Rodriguez began his rehab assignment with Single-A Charleston on Tuesday with an 0-for-2 effort at the plate in three innings. Rodriguez has been sidelined since undergoing surgery in January to repair a torn left hip labrum.
2. Minnesota RF-1B Chris Parmelee was 10-for-24 in his career versus the Yankees prior to an 0-for-4 effort with three strikeouts on Tuesday. He is 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against Sabathia.
3. Twins OF Aaron Hicks, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury, recorded two hits and scored twice in his return to the lineup.
PREDICTION: Yankees 6, Twins 2