San Francisco @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2013 ) San Francisco 1, NY Yankees 5
Alex Rodriguez broke out of a slump and gave the New York Yankees’ playoff hopes a much-needed boost with a historic home run. On Saturday, the Yankees will continue their push towards the postseason when they continue a three-game home set against the San Francisco Giants. Rodriguez, mired in a 1-for-25 slump entering his final at-bat Friday, sent New York to only its second win in seven tries with his 24th career grand slam – breaking Lou Gehrig’s major-league record.
The Yankees’ 5-1 victory on Friday left them three games behind Cleveland in the American League wild-card chase, but they still need to overtake three other teams with eight games remaining in order to qualify for the playoffs for the 18th time in 19 seasons. San Francisco (71-83) is on pace for the fourth-worst winning percentage (.461) by a defending World Series champion. However, the Giants are 5-3 on their final road trip of the season and have won eight of 12 despite their loss in the opener.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Fox
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (3-5, 5.73 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (8-5, 3.36)
Vogelsong registered his sixth no-decision in eight starts since returning from the disabled list in early August during Sunday’s 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 36-year-old, who yielded three runs and seven hits over six frames, has been significantly worse on the road over that time (5.17 ERA) than at home (3.82). Vogelsong’s only two career appearances against the Yankees came in relief in 2005.
Continuing his lackluster September, Nova took the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) over four innings in Sunday’s 9-2 setback in Boston. The former 16-game winner dropped to 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA this month after going a combined 6-2 with a 2.06 ERA in July and August. Nova – who has never faced the Giants – will look to get back on track at home, where he is 6-2 with a 2.71 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts) this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rodriguez’s 14th career grand slam as a Yankee passed Joe DiMaggio for sole possession of second place in franchise history behind Gehrig.
2. San Francisco – a half-game ahead of Colorado in the National League West – is in danger of becoming only the second team in the World Series Era (1903-present) to finish in last place the following season.
3. Rodriguez, who also moved within six home runs of Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time list with his 654th career homer, batted second in the order for the first time since 2009 on Friday.
PREDICTION: Yankees 4, Giants 3