Yankees Pregame: Spencer Jones Recalled as Aaron Judge is Placed on the IL Prior to Red Sox Series
The twice-reigning MVP will miss about two months with a fractured first rib as Spencer Jones gets a second chance.
NEW YORK—The Yankees will play their fourth game without Aaron Judge and their first game with Spencer Jones recalled from AAA Scranton.
Judge suffered a fractured first rib on his right side and will be shut down and re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks. If all goes well, Judge will be able to begin baseball activities at that point. If not, well, we’re in for a long summer.
Jones didn’t have the best introduction to the big leagues in May, but he was working on some swing adjustments at AAA and was hot as of late. The Yankees are hoping Jones shows off the power at the MLB-level this time around.
First pitch Friday will be at 7:05pm on YES Network and the Gotham Sports App.
Here is how the Yankees will line up today:
Jones will get the start in right field as Jose Caballero gets the night off. Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells make their returns to the lineup for the game tonight. Have to wonder why Volpe is back at shortstop over Caballero, who proves to be the better option.
Here is how the Red Sox will line up today:
Friday’s Pitching Matchup
Yankees LHP Ryan Weathers (2-3, 3.52)
The Yankees were one of eight teams hot after Weathers’ services this past offseason, and he has not disappointed. While the home run rate, 1.55 per nine innings, it’s a bit high, his 29.0% strikeout rate ranks in the 89th percentile. The Red Sox as an offense strike out 22.0% of the time, so Weathers should match up well with them.
This will be the first time Weathers has faced the Red Sox, but this is how he’s fared against some of the Red Sox hitters that have faced him:
Red Sox RHP Sonny Gray (6-1, 3.06)
Gray has faced the Yankees a few times in his career, and their lineup as a whole has decent numbers against Gray. In his career at Yankee Stadium, Gray has posted a 6.06 ERA in 22 games, 18 starts. This season, Gray has been one of the bright spots of a rather dim Red Sox team, posting a 3.06 ERA in 50 innings pitched.
Here is how Gray has fared against the Yankees in his career:
