Zell's Pinstripe Blog

Yankees (7-8) vs. Detroit (9-7) Rays (11-4)

Pitching Matchup:

Game #1: Tigers: LHP CC Sabathia (0-1, 8.31) vs RHP Rick Porcello (1-0, 0.00)

Game #2: Rays: RHP Sergio Mitre (0-0, 3.00) vs RHP Dan Wheeler (1-0, 2.25)

Lineup

vs Tigers:

Jeter SS, Johnson DH, Teixeira 1B, Rodriguez 3B, Cano 2B, Thames LF, Hoffmann CF, Cervelli C, Golson RF

vs Rays:

Gardner CF, Granderson LF, Swisher DH, Posada C, Winn RF, Miranda 1B, Pena 2B, Laird 3B, Nunez SS

Game News & Notes (Courtesy of the LoHud Blog, Bombers Beat, & Yankees.com):

• Against the Tigers: Weather:  A few clouds, but still sunny and nice. Temperatures in the upper 60s, creeping into the 70s. Umpires: HP Andy Fletcher, 1B Eric Cooper, 2B Marty Foster, 3B Mark Carlson. Back-to-back in the Yankees lineup are Marcus Thames and Jamie Hoffmann, the top candidates for the last spot on the bench. Neither has hit especially well this spring. It would be best if those two were still in the game when the Tigers left-handed relievers get on the mound.
• No Johnny Damon, but Austin Jackson and Phil Coke are each on the Tigers’ travel roster for this afternoon’s game in Tampa. I don’t have a lineup yet, but the other big names making the trip are Rick Porcello, Jose Valverde, Miguel Cabrera, Brandon Inge, Carlos Guillen and Gerald Laird, the brother of Yankees infielder Brandon Laird.
• Speaking of Laird, Brandon is back in the lineup after sitting out a few days.
• Yesterday, Girardi said he thought Damaso Marte would be pitching this afternoon. Turns out, Marte is pitching on the road tomorrow. He’ll work in relief of Alfredo Aceves.
• One other very small change of plans: Ryan Pope is not going on the road after all. His name was circled last night to be part of the Yankees traveling squad, but he will instead stay in Tampa to be available for today’s home game.
• Kevin Russo is getting another turn at shortstop this afternoon. He made an error there last night, but the Yankees need to see him at the position to decide whether he can be a utility man in the big leagues.
• Available Yankees pitchers: At home: CC Sabathia, Mariano Rivera, Jonathan Albaladejo, Ryan Pope, Eric Wordekemper and Royce Ring. On the road: Sergio Mitre, Chad Gaudin, Jason Hirsh, Amaury Sanit and Zack Segovia.
• Scheduled to play off the bench: At home: C Mike Rivera, 1B P.J. Pilittere, 2B Eduardo Nunez, SS Kevin Russo, 3B Jorge Vazquez, LF David Winfree, DH Jon Weber. On the road: C Jesus Montero, SS Reegie Corona, LF Colin Curtis, CF Reid Gorecki, RF Edwar Gonzalez, DH Austin Romine.
• Eight players were added to big league camp for the day, though RHP Wordekemper and OF Gonzalez are the only ones scheduled to play. Other players added to the roster: At home: C Jorge Liccien, INF Justin Snyder and OF Austin Krum.On the road: C Ryan Baker, INF Walter Ibarra, INF Jose Pirela, OF Dan Brewer.
• He wasn’t listed on either lineup card, but minor league infielder Luis Nunez was also in the clubhouse this morning, so you might see his name pop up in the home game. Probably not, but maybe.

The game against the Tigers will take place at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. The game is scheduled to start at 1:05PM ET. Tonight’s game against the Rays will be played at 7:05PM ET at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. The first game (against the Tigers at 1:05PM ET) is being televised on the YES Network and MLB.TV. The second game (against the Rays at 7:05PM ET) is being televised on the MLB Network. Enjoy the game. Go Yankees!