The Yankees (51-37) host the first-place Detroit Tigers (48-39) tonight to start off the second half.
Head-to-Head:
The Yanks took two out of three from the Tigers in Detroit back in April in their only meeting of the season thus far. This three-game series in the Bronx will be their last in the regular season.
Pitching Matchups:
| Date | Tigers starters | Yankees starters |
| Friday | Lucas French (1-0, 1.93) | A.J. Burnett (8-4, 3.77) |
| Saturday | Edwin Jackson (7-4, 2.52) | CC Sabathia (8-6, 3.86) |
| Sunday | Justin Verlander (10-4, 3.38) | Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 4.25) |
Saturday afternoon’s matchup should be a pitchers’ duel. Jackson is on a run of five consecutive quality starts, while Sabathia is entering the second half of baseball that he usually dominates.
Both of Sunday’s pitchers know how to throw gas, and strike hitters out. Verlander earned the Tigers only win over the Yankees in April, and Joba is coming off two of his worst starts of his young career.
My Outlook:
This first weekend will be a huge test for the Yankees. All three starters are pitching extremely well (in the AL Central), and the Yanks just got swept by the Angels. I have a feeling the Yankees bats will either explored or be silenced. Just a feeling though.
