MLB on Sling TV: Yankees vs. Mets on ESPN; Regional Action on Fox Sports Networks
(all times Eastern, starters subject to change)
New York Yankees (Sabathia 6-8, 3.95) at New York Mets (Verrett 3-6, 4.12)
7:10pm ET on ESPN
It’s the dawn of a new era for the New York Yankees, one in which the Bronx Bombers were sellers instead of buyers at the trade deadline. The Yankees over the past week traded away two-thirds of their vaunted bullpen Cerberus, sending Aroldis Chapman to the NL Central-leading Cubs and Andrew Miller to the AL Central-leading Indians. Having raised the white flag on 2016, the Yankees appear to be on their way to missing the postseason for the fourth time in five years, and could be headed for their first sub-.500 season since the days of Melido Perez, Danny Tartabull, and Mel Hall. Hats off to GM Brian Cashman for turning useless luxuries into a heap of young talent. With the Yankees at 52-52 and 5 ½ games out of the Wild Card, it was the smart move.
Since bringing his ERA to a season-low 2.20 on June 16, CC Sabathia has been a bit shaky with a 6.70 ERA over 41 ⅔ innings spanning 7 starts. But his last starts was solid, as he held the Astros to 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings en route to a 6-3 Yankee win.
Logan Verrett’s transition from reliever to start has been progressing nicely, as over his last 3 starts he’s gone 18 ⅓ with a 3.44 ERA and a 2.8 SO/BB ratio. Unfortunately, he was 1-2 over that span, as he twice left with the game tied only to have the bullpen cough it up. Maybe the Mets should have traded for Miller. At 54-50, the Mets find themselves 2 ½ out off the pace in the Wild Card hunt, and desperately in need of reinforcements, what with David Wright, Matt Harvey, Jose Reyes, and Asdrubal Cabrera all on the DL.
Here’s the action from the FOX Sports regional networks across the land:
Kansas City Royals (Duffy 6-1, 3.22) at Tampa Bay Rays (Archer 5-14, 4.42)
7:10pm ET on FOX Sports Kansas City & Fox Sports Sun
Minnesota Twins (Duffey 5-8, 6.12) at Cleveland Indians (Salazar 11-3, 2.97)
7:10pm ET on FOX Sports North & SportsTime Ohio
New York Yankees (Sabathia 6-8, 3.95) at New York Mets (Verrett 3-6, 4.12)
7:10pm ET on YES
Miami Marlins (Koehler 8-8, 4.18) at Chicago Cubs (Hendricks 9-7, 2.39)
8:05pm ET on FOX Sports Florida
Washington Nationals (Strasburg 14-1, 2.68) at Arizona Diamondbacks (Bradley 4-6, 4.17)
9:40pm ET on FOX Sports Arizona
Milwaukee Brewers (Nelson 6-9, 3.42) at San Diego Padres (Cosart 0-1, 5.95)
10:10pm ET on FOX Sports San Diego & FOX Sports Wisconsin
Watch baseball on FOX and FOX Sports Regional Networks by subscribing to the Sling Blue.
All stats courtesy of ESPN and Baseball Reference