Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

Right after being eliminated in the ALDS, questions stirred regarding the slew of free agents that are on the Yankees' roster. Who should stay and who should go?

Zach Britton

Greg Bird has been left off of the Yankees' American League Wild Card roster as the Bombers are set to face the A's on Wednesday night.

The first baseman only appeared in just seven of New York's 27 games in September, starting only three times. 

The 25-year-old hit just .199 this season with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in 82 games.

The Twins scored 10 runs in a span of three innings against the Yankees on Tuesday night and held on for a 10-5 win. >> Box score

1) Happ (16-6) remained undefeated as a Yankee by striking out three batters and shutting down the Twins. In eight starts since being traded from the Blue Jays, Happ is 6-0 with a 2.70 ERA with New York.

2) Miguel Andujar, Giancarlo Stanton and Didi Gregorius each hit run-scoring doubles in a six-run seventh inning as the Yankees moved within eight games of the AL East-leading Red Sox.

The Yankees (81-47) and Orioles (37-92) play game two of their doubleheader on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

Yankees notes

Today marks the Yankees' fourth doubleheader of the season, their highest total in a season since playing five in 2011. ... The Yankees are 3-1 on their six-game road trip after defeating Baltimore in their series opener on Friday and splitting a 2G series at Miami. ... Have reached 80 wins in their fewest games to start a season since also going 80-47 to begin the 2002 season. ... Own the Majors' best record when their starter tosses at least 6.0IP at 50-7 (.877).

Fresh off a game one victory earlier in the day, the Yankees completed a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles on Saturday night with a 5-1 win. >> Box score

1) Sonny Gray pitched 6.1 scoreless innings and struck out seven batters in the process as he stifled the Orioles' offense into the seventh inning.

2) Austin Romine went 3-for-4 and capped off his day at the plate with a solo home run in the ninth inning. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Hicks each had RBI singles for the Yankees, who totaled 12 hits in the nightcap. Hicks, Miguel Andujar, and Gleyber Torres contributed two hits each. 

The Yankees got out to an early lead but the bullpen quickly faltered in their 15-7 loss to the Red Sox in Boston. >> Box score

Things to know about tonight's game

1) CC Sabathia wasn't explicitly awful, allowing two runs in three innings while escaping multiple jams, but he turned the game over to the bullpen earlier than they could handle.

Sonny Gray imploded once again as the Yankees couldn't claw back into this one, losing 7-5 to the Orioles in the Bronx. >> Box score

Things to know about tonight's game

1) It's the same story over and over again with Gray. After tossing a great outing in his last start, he took the Yankee Stadium mound on Wednesday and threw a dud. He allowed seven runs on eight hits over 2.2 innings against an Orioles offense he dominated just a few weeks back. As fans booed him off the mound, you got to wonder what the Yankees are thinking of doing with Gray down the road. 

Boos rained down on Yankees RHP Sonny Gray on Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium after he was shelled by the Orioles.

Gray exited after 2.2 innings, having allowed seven runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out three as his ERA for the season rose to 5.56.

With his rotation spot in jeopardy last month, Gray had responded with three strong starts before Wednesday's drubbing -- allowing just three runs in 16.1 innings. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

Sometimes, being aggressive in the winter is better than hoping to perform alterations in the summer.

The Yankees will be making phone calls around the league over the next several days, searching to upgrade the club's starting rotation. It is arguable the Yankees made a mistake by not being more vigorous pursuers in the starting pitching market during the winter.

Here is something Yankee fans didn't expect to hear: RHP Sonny Gray could be a potential trade asset. 

At least, that's what FanCred Sports' Jon Heyman has been hearing as the trade market begins to swirl with a little over a week left before the July 31 deadline. 

It is no secret Gray has struggled since coming over to New York from the A's last season. He owns a 4.69 ERA over 30 starts with the Yankees, and even worse, he has a 7.62 ERA at Yankee Stadium this season. 

The Mets have finalized their starting rotation for their Subway Series matchup against the Yankees following the All-Star break.

Noah Syndergaard will get the start on Friday in the series opener against Domingo German, while Steven Matz will pitch on Saturday and Jacob deGrom will be on the mound on Sunday in the series finale. Matz will be opposed by Sonny Gray on Saturday and Masahiro Tanaka will pitch for the Yankees in the series finale. 

Syndergaard will make his second start since returning from the disabled list with a strained ligament in his finger, which forced him to miss more than two months of action.

The Yankees have finalized their starting rotation for their Subway Series matchup against the Mets following the All-Star break.

Domingo German will get the start on Friday in the series opener against Noah Syndergaard, while Sonny Gray will oppose Steven Matz on Saturday. Masahiro Tanaka will pitch for the Yankees in the series finale. 

German limited the Mets to three runs on five hits in six innings on June 9, while Tanaka allowed one run in five innings against the Mets.

Gray has yet to face the Mets this season.

Once again, the ace-like stuff that the Yankees expect from Sonny Gray showed its face on Wednesday night in a shutout performace against the Orioles. And this performance couldn't have come at a better time for the young righty. 

Gray, who has been struggling mightily of late, was going up against the worst team in baseball in Baltimore. Some believed this start to be the last straw for the 28-year-old given the O's 26-66 record entering the game. If Gray coughed up a hitting clinic, the Yankees may have had to reasses their options. 

Luckily for Gray, his arsenal was deadly this time around, giving up only three hits while striking out eight over six innings. But, Yankee fans, we've seen this movie play out before. Gray has a dominant start, but can't sustain that success over a longer stretch. 

Sonny Gray bounced back with six shutout innings and the Yankees hit three home runs en route to a 9-0 win over the Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore. >> Box score

Things to know about Wednesday's game

1) Gray pitched well against a team he's had success against this season. He never allowed a run in six innings of work and struck out eight batters in the process. He walked just one and threw 90 pitches on the night. 

Yankees RHP Sonny Gray has been a pinata for opposing hitters for most of this season, and could be in danger of losing his spot in the starting rotation.

Gray, who has a 12.27 ERA (15 earned runs in 11 innings) over his last three starts, toes the rubber on Wednesday night when the Yankees battle the Orioles. Overall, Gray has a 5.85 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 17 starts this season. 

"It's easy to get down in the dumps and walk around with your head down," Gray said after his most recent start. "I need to stay positive and continue to put in the work, and hopefully turn this thing around. That's all I can really do at this point, is continue to put in the work and continue to try to find the solution."

The Yankees and Orioles will continue their series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

Yankees notes

Didi Gregorius has reached base safely in 25 straight games against the Orioles... Greg Bird tied his career-high with four RBI on Tuesday... Jonathan Holder has allowde just two earned runs in his last 29 appearances since he was promoted from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees have hit .380 with four doubles, a triple, two homers, and 22 RBI with runners in scoring position through their last five games.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Friday night's game that Sonny Gray will make his next scheduled start.

Gray's struggles continued on Friday night when he allowed five runs in one inning and couldn't make it past the second inning. It was the shortest outing of the season for the right-hander, who only lasted 2 1/3 innings in an 11-0 loss to the Red Sox on June 30.

Gray ran into trouble immediately in the second inning on Friday night, as Randal Grichuk led off with a double. Devon Travis and Curtis Granderson followed up with RBI singles.

Yankees RHP Sonny Gray hasn't had the best luck in the past few days. 

Gray was not only booed off the mound in his start against the Red Sox on Saturday, but he appears to have been the latest victim of a Twitter hack as well. The hacker goes by "caso," and this isn't the first Major League player he has hacked on the social media platform.

Reds OF Billy Hamilton was the first player to be seen hacked by the new user, and Twins 1B Logan Morrison also saw his Twitter locked up.

Sonny Gray was shelled and the Red Sox continued to pour it on against the Yankees' bullpen in an 11-0 two-hit shutout on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Things to know about Tuesday's game

1) The Red Sox loaded the bases in the first inning for Rafael Devers, who hit a grand slam to give Boston an early 4-0 lead. It was all downhill from here, as Gray continued to struggle in the second inning. He allowed an RBI single to Andrew Benintendi before JD Martinez hit a sacrifice fly, extending Boston's lead to 6-0. In the third, Gray allowed back-to-back singles to open the third inning and recorded just one out before he was replaced.

Yankees starter Sonny Gray allowed four runs in the Yankees' 4-0 loss to the Rays on Saturday.

Gray allowed his first run in the first inning when Jake Bauers hit an RBI single to drive in Kevin Kiermaier. The Rays scored twice more in the second inning, as Daniel Robertson hit an RBI double and later scored on Willy Adames' single to left field.

Gray, making his 12th career start against the Rays, struck out seven batters and walked one across 6 2/3 innings. He received no run support from the Yankees on offense.

The Yankees endured another rough day at the plate as the offense tallied just four hits in a 4-0 loss to the Rays on Saturday. >> Box score

Things to know about Wednesday's game

1) Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge combined to go 0-for-7 atop the Yankees' batting order. Didi Gregorius was responsible for half of the Yankees' offensive production, as he had two hits. Giancarlo Stanton went 1-for-4 with a double and Austin Romine had a hit.

The Yankees (46-21) resume their suspended game against the Nationals (37-31) from May 15 on Monday at 5:05 p.m.

Play was suspended after the top of the sixth inning with the game tied 3-3 in Washington. The Nationals got on the board first after Anthony Rendon hit a solo homer to left field in the bottom of the first off Masahiro Tanaka. 

The Nationals would add two more in the second after an Andrew Stevenson RBI single followed by an RBI double from Pedro Severino.

The Nationals got the last laugh as Juan Soto's solo shot in the top of the seventh was the decision maker in the 5-4 loss for the Yankees on Wednesday night. >> Box score

Things to know about tonight's game

1) Sonny Gray continues to struggle at home, as he allowed four earned runs on seven hits over five innings. Gray didn't have the control of his arsenal on the mound as he did in Toronto in his previous start. He walked into this contest with a 7.22 ERA at home, and didn't do much to clean up that infalted number. Luckily, he had a couple pick offs and good plays in the field to keep the damage low. 

Yankees RHP Sonny Gray has been stellar on the road this season with a 2.83 ERA. When Gray throws in Yankee Stadium, though, that number rises drastically. 

Gray entered his Wednesday night start against Nationals with a 7.22 ERA at home. And he didn't do much to make that number fall either. 

In the top of the first, Gray let up back-to-back hits to Adam Eaton and Trea Turner who were sitting at the corners for Bryce Harper. Luckily, Gray dropped in a 3-2 curve ball to punch out Harper. Anthony Rendon, though, drove in the first run of the game with a sac fly to center field. 

This is the dominant Sonny Gray the Yankees envisioned when they traded for him last season. 

Gray was absolutely lights out in his start against the Blue Jays Wednesday night, tossing eight shutout innings. He began his outing with four perfect frame, setting down 12 straight batters with five strikeouts coming in those innings. 

In the fifth inning, though, Gray found himself in a jam after Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales had back-to-back hits. With runners on the corners and no outs, Gray was thankfully bailed out due to bad baserunning as Smoak broke toward home on a Kevin Pillar gronder to Miguel Andujar at third. Andujar threw a strike to home, keeping the game scoreless...

The Yankees finally got on the board in the top of the 13th thanks to blasts from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton to down the Blue Jays, 3-0, in extras Wednesday night. >> Box score

Things to know about tonight's game

1) With the game still knotted in a 0-0 tie in the 13th inning, Judge and Stanton each delivered a blast over the left field fence to put the first runs on the board. Judge waited on a 1-2 curveball from Joe Biagini, and launched it to the seats to give the Yanks a 2-0 lead. Two batters later Stanton hit an absolute laser to left for a solo shot. It measured a 119.3 mph exit velocity.

Luis Severino has been dominant and CC Sabathia -- despite allowing at least four runs in each of his last three starts -- has a 3.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. The rest of the Yankees rotation, however, has been a mess.

Sonny Gray has a 5.48 ERA and has walked 25 batters in 46.0 innings. Masahiro Tanaka has a 4.95 ERA and is on pace to allow 39 home runs this season. Domingo German, filling in for the injured Jordan Montgomery, has a 5.59 ERA and has walked 15 batters in 29.0 innings.

So, what can the Yankees do to fix their rotation? The DNL crew discusses below...

The Yankees (26-11) will open a three-game series with the Athletics (18-19) on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. 

Yankees notes

The Yankees have won five of six games during their current nine-game homestand... the Yankees are 15-2 vs. all teams outside of their division this season... the 2018 squad is tied with the 2003 and 1994 Yanekes with the best start through 37 games during the last 60 seasons... The Yankees have won nine of 13 games this season when they are losing entering the ninth inning of play.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

When a new manager arrives -- particularly one who has never done the job before, like Aaron Boone -- you wonder how reliable his public comments about players will be. Some, like Terry Collins, will deliver blunt, analytical assessments, while others, like Joe Girardi, will remain generic and positive, in an effort to keep peace in the clubhouse.

On Monday night, we learned a little more about Boone's style.

With the Bronx being a tough place to succeed, Yankees GM Brian Cashman needed assurance from Athletics executive vice president Billy Beane that newly acquired RHP Sonny Gray could handle the pressure.

Cashman scouted Gray for weeks trying to determine whether or not the 27-year-old could thrive in the bright lights of Yankee Stadium. NorthJersey.com's Bill Klapisch said Beane used his 2013 AL Division Series start against the Detroit Tigers' ace Justin Verlander as proof of his ace status. 

Gray went eight innings, shutting out the Tigers and staying right with Verlander the whole night. Klapisch writes, "Gray couldn't have withstood the crushing pressure on talent alone: he was a warrior, Beane said, who'll perform just as brilliantly in New York in October."