Yankees vs. Angels Preview

The Yankees just finished up taking 3 of 4 from their favorite whipping boys, the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees have had their way with the Twins in both the regular and post-seasons for several years now. But this weekend the Yankees become the Twins and the Angels become the Yankees. The Halos have been kicking our butts for some time now, including the 2002 and 2005 division series. This is NOT the series the Yankees needed in trying to get back on track as the All-Star break approaches.

Pitching Probables

Friday - Bartolo Colon (6-4, 5.79) vs. Andy Pettitte (4-6, 3.77)

Colon started like a house afire. After being shut down early in '06 due to arm problems, Colon didn't make his first start this season until April 21. After his 1st six starts, Colon was 5-0 with a 3.69 ERA, but he has struggled since. In his 7 starts since mid-May, Colon has just one win while posting a 7.91 ERA.

You can bet Alex Rodriguez will do everything he can to get into tonight's lineup. A-Rod is 20-45 (.444) with 8 HRs and 17 RBI in his career against Colon.

Andy Pettitte is coming off of one of the worst outings of his career. He didn't make it out of the 2nd inning this past Sunday, allowing 8 runs (7 earned) to the Oakland A's. In 20 career starts against the Halos, Pettitte is 11-6, 3.79.

Saturday - John Lackey (11-5, 3.04) vs. Roger Clemens (2-3, 4.26)

Prior to Saturday's game, the Yankees will host their 61st annual Old-Timers Day. Paul O'Neill will be making his 1st appearance as will Ken Griffey Sr., Jess Barfield, and Homer Bush. Also on hand will be Diane Munson, widow of The Captain, Helen Hunter (Catfish's widow) and Billy Martin Jr.

Some of my best memories as a kid were going to the Old Timer's games in the early 1970s. Amazing how many legends were there then and how few are left now. But Yogi and Whitey will be there. It's unlikely that we will see the Scooter.

When the nationally televised game starts on FOX at 3:55, Lackey will be making his 11th career start against the Yankees. The big right-hander has struggled, going 4-6, with a 5.35 ERA, compared to his career ERA mark of 3.91. Derek Jeter (.333), Johnny Damon (.333) and Melky Cabrera (5-10) have all enjoyed success against him.

Roger Clemens is coming off of his magnificent start on Monday, in which he limited the Twins to 2 hits over 8 innings. He really needed it after 2 very poor starts prior to it. Clemens is 25-8, 2.40 in 41 career starts against the Angels. This is an Angels team though that boasts one of the most productive lineups in baseball.

Sunday - Ervin Santana (5-9, 5.35) vs Chien-Ming Wang (8-4, 3.58)

Santana is teetering on the edge of not being part of the Angels rotation. With Joe Saunders available, the other Johann Santana (he changed his name) went 28-16 in his first two full season in the majors. But the league is hitting .284 against him this year and he's already allowed 21 HRs, matching his total for the entire 2006 season. The Yankees have yet to solve him though as Santana has won all 4 of his career regular season starts while posting a 3.47 ERA. Derek Jeter has had the only success, going 5-10 with 2 HRs.

The Wanger is coming off a strange 7 shutout innings start in which he really did not look that good. That busted fingernail on his pitching hand really seems to be effecting him and the Yankees hope that the time off during the break will help it to heal. He has had one career start vs. the Halos, and was on the losing end after allowing 3 runs in 8 innings.

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Doug Mientkiewicz and Darrell Rasner will be heading to Tampa next Monday to begin a rehab assignment. As previously mentioend, Phil Hughes will be doing likewise.