New York @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2012 ) NY Yankees 1, Chi. White Sox 2
A potential circus comes to town Monday as the downtrodden Chicago White Sox host the New York Yankees - and Alex Rodriguez - in the opener of a three-game series. Rodriguez, who has yet to make his season debut following offseason hip surgery, is likely to be available for New York as the club continues its eight-game road trip. The troubled superstar also may be handed a long-awaited suspension that reportedly would run through the 2014 season as a result of his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal, although Rodriguez is expected to file an appeal, which would allow him to play Monday.
On the field, the Yankees enter the series having lost five of their last eight games overall and three of five on their road trip. New York is fourth in the American League East, 9 1/2 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox, and trail the Cleveland Indians by 4 1/2 for the second wild-card spot. Chicago, which occupies the basement in the AL Central, is looking to snap a 10-game losing streak - its longest skid since 1976.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), CSN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH Andy Pettitte (7-8, 4.28 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jose Quintana (5-3, 3.62)
Pettitte looks to snap a three-game winless streak as he makes his fourth straight road start. The 41-year-old yielded four or more runs in seven consecutive outings before giving up a total of four over 13 innings in his last two turns. Pettitte is 11-9 with a 4.41 ERA in 24 career starts against the White Sox.
Quintana has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last six outings but is just 2-1 in that span. The 24-year-old Colombian did not figure in the decision at Cleveland on Wednesday after yielding three runs and seven hits in five innings. Quintana won his only career start against the Yankees despite surrendering six runs over six frames on June 29, 2012 at New York.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rodriguez batted .214 (9-for-42) with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 15 games during his minor-league rehab assignment. New York's fill-in third basemen this season are hitting .215 with four homers and 32 RBIs.
2. Injured Yankees C Francisco Cervelli also is expected to be suspended for his relationship with Biogenesis.
3. New York SS Derek Jeter has missed two games with a right calf injury and could land on the disabled list for the third time this season.
PREDICTION: Yankees 5, White Sox 2