PROBLEMS AND A PITCH IS ONE!
Judge has chip fracture of right wrist after HBP, will be shut down for at least 3 weeks
Aaron Judge won’t be seeing any action for next few weeks after getting hit by pitch in first inning of Yankees’ 7-2 win over Royals.
Zach Britton had almost too much time to think about what was happening.
Then the Orioles' closer, Britton knew after a rain delay that he was likely to be dealt to the Yankees after the game. When the Orioles had a save situation later Tuesday night, the bullpen phone rang and his name wasn't called, confirming that he was moving on.
The 30-year-old quickly focus his attention on the reason he was going to be putting on pinstripes: to help the Yankees chase down the Red Sox in the American League East.
“I pitched here before. I don't know if it's any harder to pitch here as a home player, but it's a pretty tough place to come in as a visiting player and perform. I have always enjoyed coming here. I don't think that's going to be hard,” Britton said. “Definitely, you want to make a good first impression. When this team is winning, you don't want to be a hindrance to that, you want to go out and help them go further than they are now and catch the Boston Red Sox.”
On Thursday, the Yankees continued their arms race with Boston to prepare for the final stretch in their pennant race and potential playoff run. They pulled the trigger on a deal for starter J.A. Happ, sending infielder Brandon Drury and outfielder Billy McKinney to Toronto for the veteran lefty, who happens to have had success against the Red Sox in his career.
Like Happ, Britton has been more than just a spectator to the AL East pennant race; he's faced these guys. There is a familiarity that will allow him to seamlessly make the transition on the field and make an impact on the division battle between to the two heavyweights.
Indeed, Britton looked very comfortable as he pitched a perfect eighth as the Yankees picked up a game on the Red Sox with a 7-2 win over the Royals at the Stadium on Thursday night. The Bombers now sit 4.5 games behind Boston.
But within 24 hours, the Yankees have dramatically changed their attack in the race, making a strong push to avoid the AL's one-game wild-card playoff game. With the addition of Britton, however, they also added a weapon to attack both the left-handedhitter heavy lineups of both the A's and Mariners. Most importantly they will both be comfortable going into Fenway, where the Yankees will end their season in what will likely be a pennant-deciding series, contending with the Red Sox's dangerous lineup.
With 10 more games against the Red Sox, meaning three possible regular season and one possible postseason start against them for Happ, his career success against Boston is a huge comfort for Yankee manager Aaron Boone. The added depth to his bullpen that now features four closers is satisfying as is Britton's familiarity with Boston's sluggers.
“Yes, it certainly doesn't hurt,” Boone said of their new pitchers' success against the Yankees' main rival. “Again, I'll get back to even more importantly though, these are guys that are still really good . ... As much as I love the experience, I love the fact they have been there and done that in a lot of ways.
“Still their talent is the biggest reason they are here and why we are so high on them, because they are so capable.”
Happ, who turns 36 in October, has made two starts against the Red Sox this season. Though he struggled the last time he faced them, overall he has held them in check. Before the All-Star break, Happ allowed five runs in 32⁄3 innings against Boston — but all five runs were unearned.
Overall, Happ — who is owed $13 million from the last year of his three-year, $36 million deal with the Blue Jays — is 7-4 with a career 2.98 ERA against the Red Sox. He has a 2.91 ERA and .233 batting average against in nine games, eight starts, at Fenway.
Britton has a career 3.28 ERA against Boston and seemed confident about the pennant race.
“I think somebody outside the division comes in here and has to go into a high leverage situation in Fenway, it is going to be tough for them. I've done it,” Britton said. “All the stadiums, Toronto, I've done it wherever it is. I have faced these guys a lot, a long track record against them. I think the baseball part of coming here is going to be the easiest part of this.”