TIME TO SOX IT
Games Home & away Games vs. +.500 teams (BOS, MIN, TB, CLE, KC) Open second Half on 11-game road trip (BOS, MIN, SEA)
For a team searching desperately for a cure to a monthlong slump, perhaps this is exactly what the Yankees need: they start the second half by heading to Boston for a weekend showdown, knowing they’ve owned the Red Sox this season. It was just last month, in fact, that they took control of the AL East race by running their arch-rivals out of the Bronx with routs of 8-0 and 9-1 to take the last two games of a three-game series. Throw in a mini-sweep at Fenway Park during a rain-shortened series in April and the Yanks have won four of five games against the Sox by a combined score of 28-6. The problem, of course, is such dominance feels like an awfully long time ago, as life in the AL East has changed dramatically for both teams. The Yankees have slid backwards, going 7-18 since June 13th, while the Sox have surged into first place by 3½ games. In both cases, it’s mostly about the pitching: The Red Sox’ starters are living up to expectations, with Chris Sale having a Cy Young-like season and David Price finding his groove after an injury-delayed start to the season, plus a steady bullpen anchored by Craig Kimbrel having a spectacular season as closer. Meanwhile, you know the deal with the Yankees: the rotation has faltered after a hot start, and most notably, just when he seemed to be finding his form, Masahiro Tanaka threw in another clunker last Sunday against the Brewers, again making you wonder if he’ll ever dominate with any consistency. And Dellin Betances didn’t exactly calm the concerns about his control issues with a shaky inning in the All-Star Game, The Yankees have dealt left-handed reliever Tyler Webb to the Brewers in exchange for first base prospect Garrett Cooper. In seven relief appearances with the Yankees this season, the 26-yearold Webb registered a 4.50 ERA with four walks and five strikeouts over six innings. Cooper, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound righty, has yet to make his major-league debut after entering the Brewers farm system in 2013, but seems ready for the big leagues. In 75 games with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, he has a stellar .366 batting average and 1.080 OPS with 17 homers and 82 RBI this season.
On June 22, Webb was called up to the majors after playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He made his majorleague debut two days later against the Rangers.
Webb had worked his way up the Yankee farm system since being drafted by the Bombers in the 10th round in 2013. He was picked up by the Pirates in the 2015 Rule 5 Draft but was dealt back to New York this year.