Righty hopes to pick up where he left off in 2016.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The marathon that is the MLB regular season continues tonight as the Yankees and Rays square off for the second game of three to open the 2017 season. Following Sunday’s matinee win over New York ace Masahiro Tanaka, Kevin Cash and Co send Jake Odorizzi to the hill in hopes he can continue his success from last year.
Tonight, the Yanks send C.C. Sabathia to the mound, beginning his 17th season in MLB. The Rays will send a lineup against him with some changes from Sunday’s group.
RF Steven Souza Jr
CF Kevin Kiermaier
3B Evan Longoria
1B Rickie Weeks Jr (Rays debut)
SS Tim Beckham
2B Brad Miller
C Derek Norris
DH Daniel Robertson (MLB debut)
LF Peter Bourjos (Rays debut)
Daniel Robertson makes his MLB debut tonight as the DH while Weeks and Bourjos get their first regular season innings as members of the Rays.
During the doldrums of the 2016 season, one of the lone bright spots was the consistency of Odorizzi – something Evan Longoria spoke very highly.
“We pretty much knew we were going to get five-plus and on any given day he could go really deep into the game,” Longo said. “He’s really efficient and easy to play behind. He throws strikes. He’s around the zone. All the things you really look for in a pitcher.”
Odorizzi was one of the game’s best in the second half of 2016. He finished the season 10-6 and the only winning starter in the rotation. In 14 starts after the All-Star break, he went 7-1 with a 2.71 ERA.
The Yankees will send out a lineup very similar to the one from Sunday.
LF Brett Gardner
C Gary Sanchez
1B Greg Bird
DH Matt Holliday
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2B Starling Castro
3B Chase Headley
RF Aaron Judge
SS Ronald Torreyes
Bird has had success against Odorizzi. He has taken Jake deep twice in just five at-bats. Holliday has also taken the righty deep twice in his career.
First pitch is set for 7:10 this evening.
