Starting Tuesday, perennial playoff contenders collide as the New York Yankees host the Oakland Athletics for a three-game series in the Bronx.
The Yankees have alternated wins and losses in their past six, falling 3 1/2 games behind a suddenly bulletproof Toronto Blue Jays squad for the A.L. East lead.
On the flip side, the Oakland A's swept a three-game set from their nearest A.L. West competitors, the Los Angeles Angels, over the weekend. The A's have the American League's best record and a 4 1/2 game lead in the A.L. West.
Snapshot:
Home: New York Yankees
Record: (29-26, 12-13 home, 2nd A.L. East)
Away: Oakland A's
Record: (35-22, 18-10 road, 1st A.L. West)
Season Series: no games played
Key stat:
The Yankees are 9-2 in games started by rookie sensation Masahiro Tanaka. They are 20-24 in all other contests.
Yankees outlook:
Is the David Robertson era as New York Yankees closer already in danger of coming to an end?
After Robertson blew his second save of the season on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins, the boo birds at Yankee Stadium made sure to voice their displeasure on the sudden turn of events. But, is the criticism of "Not Mariano Rivera" coming way too soon?
Robertson is 12-for-14 on save opportunities, sporting a very manageable 1.167 WHIP despite his 4.50 ERA. He may still be a work in progress, but he still most likely the man the end of the game for the Yanks until a larger sample size of games proves him ineffective.
A's outlook:
The Oakland A's have their budding stars (just look at Josh Donaldson 300,000 + lead in All-Star voting at 3rd base), but this dominant A's team has been a testament to the "next man up" phil0sophy of manager Bob Melvin.
Four of the A's nine position spots (C, 1B, 2B, and arguably CF) have been treated as platoon positions, along with 11 different players taking a crack at DH in the team's first 57 games.
Then there's the rotation. After losing projected #1 and #4 starters Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin to Tommy John surgery, the A's patchwork band of starters is posting a 3.00 ERA so far this season - good for second in the Major Leagues.
What to watch for:
After being shipped to Oakland from Colorado as part of the Brett Anderson trade last December, Drew Pomeranz (5-2, 2.37) has experienced a career rebirth with the A's - becoming a key fixture of their formidable starting rotation.
He will have a giant stage to showcase his improved skill set on Thursday, as he matches up with the one and only Masahiro Tanaka (8-1, 2.06).
Not convinced about Tanakamania? How about the fact that he has struck out 88 batters this season...against just 12 walks. 12 walks in 11 starts is the stuff that Cy Youngs are made of.
What they are saying about the Yankees:
Beltran, Cervelli play in extended Spring Training games (Sons of Steve Garvey)
Athletics will make it tough to gain ground (Pinstripe Alley)
What they are saying about the A's:
Josh Donaldson holds commanding lead in All-Star voting (CSN Bay Area)
Tough roster move faces A's before Tuesday in New York (Inside the Oakland Athletics)
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