NYY vs. DET: Nestor Cortes vs. Tarik Skubal
NYY vs. DET: Nestor Cortes vs. Tarik Skubal
With rainy conditions expected this afternoon in the Bronx, we will see if the Yankees and Tigers are able to close out the series today in a starting matchup between Nestor Cortes and Tarik Skubal.
The Yankees will face a tough test this afternoon in their bid to complete the sweep, as they take on Skubal, one of the most dominant starters in the game right now. In the period spanning his season debut last year on July 4, 2023 to now after returning from flexor tendon surgery, he has led all qualified starters in ERA (2.46) and fWAR (4.5). This season, Skubal has emerged as an early frontrunner in the AL Cy Young Award race, having nearly spotless stats in his first six starts: a 4-0 record, a 1.72 ERA (with a 2.18 FIP), and a 0.74 WHIP.
Skubal’s four-seam fastball, averaging 96.2 mph, ranks in the 98th percentile in Statcast’s Run Value among fastballs. The lefty showcases a strong arsenal. His changeup, employed 26.6 percent of the time this year, boasts a 45.8-percent whiff rate. He also has two other trusted secondary pitches with a sinker and slider. Hitters have a batting average of .176 against his sinker and .133 against his slider. His sinker, frequently utilized against lefties, deceptively comes in at the same speed as his four-seamer but with a vertical break. Some consider his slider to be more of a slurve due to its sharp break both horizontally and vertically.
Yesterday was an all-in-all positive showing for the lately flat offense with every player in the lineup besides Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera getting a hit. An Anthony Rizzo three-run homer highlighted the effort, but collecting nine hits against Casey Mize, who had been sharp this season, is encouraging.
Cortes is coming off a loss against the relentless Orioles lineup that tagged him for four runs in six innings. He dealt with some tough luck in the fourth inning when he gave up three of his runs with Baltimore stringing together three soft-contact infield singles, and two doubles that were perhaps more good hitting than bad pitching,
Budding Tigers star Riley Greene has shined so far in this series. He is being slotted down to the cleanup spot today after leading off the series’ first two games. The 23-year-old went 3-for-4 with a walk on Friday, and smacked a leadoff homer to start the game on Saturday.
Rizzo, who hit the walk-off hit on Friday and homered yesterday, will not finish out his strong weekend in the lineup. Cabrera will get his first look at first base in 2024; the 34-year-old Rizzo had not missed a single start this year in 35 games. Jose Trevino will don the tools of ignorance today with a lefty on the mound. The catcher has a .918 OPS against lefties this year in 44 plate appearances. At the hot corner, Jon Berti is starting his first game since being activated from the 10-day IL with a groin strain.
How to watch:
Location: Yankee Stadium — Bronx, NY
First pitch: 1:35 p.m. ET
TV broadcast: YES, Bally Sports Detroit, MLB Network (out-of-market)
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280
Online stream: YES App
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