Los Angeles @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 30, 2012 ) NY Yankees 6, LA Angels 5
The New York Yankees didn't make a play for left-hander C.J. Wilson when he was a free agent last offseason, and the Los Angeles Angels hope Wilson can make the Yankees regret passing him up for a second time when the teams return from the All-Star break to begin a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Wilson shut down the Yankees on April 14 in New York, holding them to one run on six hits over six innings in a 7-1 win.
Wilson's win over the Yankees came a day after Hiroki Kuroda, Wilson's counterpart for the series opener Friday, shut out the Angels for eight innings in a 5-0 New York win. The Angels took three of four from Baltimore entering the break to move to their high-water mark of 10 games above .500 and remain within four games of American League West leader Texas. In the process, Los Angeles helped the Yankees, who won four of five going into the break to extend their American League East lead to a season-high seven games over Baltimore.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH C.J. Wilson (9-5, 2.43 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (8-7, 3.50 ERA)
Wilson lost his last start before the All-Star break, but he pitched well enough to win, allowing three runs over seven innings in a 3-2 loss to Baltimore. He had won his previous five decisions and hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last 11 outings. Wilson is 1-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 22 games (five starts) against the Yankees.
Kuroda had put together six quality starts in seven outings before he was blown up for seven runs (six earned) in 5 2/3 innings Friday at Boston. He didn't factor in the decision, though, and has won five of his last six decisions. In four starts against the Angels, Kuroda is 2-2 with a 1.71 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano, whose 15-game hitting streak is tied for the longest active streak in the majors, is 10-for-26 (.385) with two home runs against Wilson.
2. The Angels' current roster is a collective 14-for-73 (.192) against Kuroda, and no Los Angeles player is hitting over .300 against him.
3. The Angels are 40-23 since May 1.