The Yankees play their last game of the season in Angel Stadium tonight as they go for the series win.
Tonight's lineup: Ellsbury 8 Jeter 6 Beltran 9 Teixeira 3 Soriano DH Solarte 5 Gardner 7 Roberts 4 Murphy 2 Nuno 1
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) May 7, 2014Tonight's lineup is very similar to the one they've been rolling out recently. Jacoby Ellsbury, Derek Jeter, and Carlos Beltran lead off. Mark Teixeira is the cleanup hitter with Alfonso Soriano and Yangervis Solarte behind him. Brett Gardner, Brian Roberts, and John Ryan Murphy, giving Brian McCann the day off, round out the bottom of the order.
The Angels are expected to honor Derek Jeter with a small ceremony and a gift before the start of the game. We'll give you an update on that when we can. Will it beat the pinstriped cowboy boots, hat, and golf clubs the Astros gave him? Probably.
The Yankees released Nik Turley from the organization last week in order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Chris Leroux. Turley has been recovering from an arm injury he suffered during spring training, so he has yet to pitch in the minors in 2014. Now the Yankees seem to be on the verge of re-signing the lefty, like they did with David Adams last season:
According to Mark Newman, the Yankees expect Nik Turley to re-sign soon. He's been rehabbing with them in Tampa since his release. #Yankees
— Lohud Yankees Blog (@LoHudYankees) May 7, 2014It would appear that he never really left, despite the fact that he isn't under contract anymore. While not a top prospect, Turley has put together a solid career and could eventually end up in the majors. He should be healthy again soon and ready to return to the Scranton rotation, where he was originally assigned. At the rate the Yankees are going through pitchers this year, it wouldn't surprise me if Turley ended up back on the 40 and in the majors at some point this season.
On another front, it looks like Yankees pitching prospect Chase Whitley is getting attention from scouts after putting up a three-hit, 11-strikeout start over 6.2 innings:
Scout likes scranton rhp chase whitley. Sees him as probable '14 yankees callup
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) May 7, 2014The righty struggled in spring training, but the organization has been so impressed by him that they have decided to try him out as a starting pitcher. It's entirely possible that he could end up on the big league team at some point this season, though it's not quite known if he can make it as a starter, despite the career-best performance.