Game 28 Preview: Astros at Yankees

Houston at New York (AL), 6:05 PM CT

TV: CSN Houston
Radio: KBME 790 AM
Yankees SBNation Blog: Pinstriped Bible

Pitching Match

LHP Erik Bedard (0-2 / 7.89 ERA / 1.77 WHIP) vs. RHP David Phelps (1-1 / 5.29 ERA / 1.47 WHIP)

Preview

The combination of Humber and Bedard has been like clockwork. The level of fail thus far can only be matched in Astros history by the dynamic duo of Asumus and Everett. This is a bit of an exaggeration of both counts, but not by much. Bedard and Humber have a collective 0-8 record and an 8.34 ERA. Good times. Bedard takes the mound today, hoping to steal the rubber game in the Bronx.

The success has come few and far between for Bedard, after pitching 3 1/3 scoreless on Opening Night - his ERA is 10.32 in four starts. His last start in Boston was the first time Bedard went over 75 pitches, he gave up five earned runs over three innings. The turn around must start soon or the end may be near. The youth movement has already started with Jordan Lyles joining the team to pitch against Detroit. David Phelps is making his first start for the Yankees in 2013; he made 11 starts in 2012. Phelps gives batters a variety of looks with five different pitches in his arsenal. That variety also masks Phelps lack of an explosive fastball, hovering around 92 mph. The few Astros that have seen Phelps have only seen in him in a relief role. I expect Houston to tee off when the order rolls around a third time. As for the walking wounded that is the Yankees' batting order - the few that have faced Humber had success. Boesch, Cano, Hafner, and Wells are all batting over .300 against Humber.