:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50227035/usa-today-9404545.0.jpg)
Houston Astros (54-45) vs. New York Yankees (51-48), July 26, 2016, 7:10 PM CDT
TV: Root Sports SW
Online: MLB.TV
Radio: KBME SportsTalk 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM (En Español)
Yankees SB Nation Blog: Pinstripe Alley
Pitching Matchup
RHP Lance McCullers (5-4, 3.33 ERA, 1.56 WHIP) vs. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 3.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP)
Preview
The Astros are attempting to save face after two losses to the sellers' market Yankees. Alex Bregman will be back in the field at third base after Luis Valbuena left Tuesday's game with a hamstring injury. Bregman will be helping Lance McCuller's go for his sixth win of the season.
McCullers has found another gear over his last handful of starts, he is 2-2 with a 2.22 ERA in four July starts. McCullers is 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA in eight home starts this season, he is 8-3 with a 2.08 ERA in 18 career starts at Minute Maid Park.
Current Yankees are batting .333 (1x3) against McCullers with a .500 BABIP, -6.80 FIP, 33.3 K%, and a 0.0 BB%.
| NEW YORK YANKEES CAREER STATISTICS VS. LANCE MCCULLERS | ||||||||||||
| BATTER | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Dustin Ackley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Aaron Hicks | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.667 |
One time Astros' international free agent target Masahiro Tanaka has been the Yankees' anchor on the pitching staff in 2016. He has been lights out in July with a 2-0 record and a 1.48 ERA in four July starts. He allowed two runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings on Opening Day (April 5) against the Astros.
Tanaka is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in two career starts against Houston. Current Astros are batting .262 (17x65) against Tanaka with a .255 BABIP, 6.58 FIP, 18.6 K%, and a 7.1 BB%.
| HOUSTON ASTROS CAREER STATISTICS VS. MASAHIRO TANAKA | ||||||||||||
| BATTER | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Jose Altuve | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 1.000 | 1.333 |
| Jason Castro | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Carlos Correa | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 1.500 | 2.000 |
| Evan Gattis | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Carlos Gomez | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.500 | 0.600 | 0.750 | 1.350 |
| Marwin Gonzalez | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Colby Rasmus | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.167 | 0.000 | 0.167 |
| Jon Singleton | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| George Springer | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.667 | 0.500 | 1.167 |
| Preston Tucker | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 1.000 | 1.500 |
| Luis Valbuena | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.273 | 0.273 | 0.455 | 0.727 |
***
Editor's Note: New players win cash in their first league or get their entry fee refunded! Offered in partnership with FanDuel
.