The New York Yankees appeared to be rolling after dominating the Baltimore Orioles last weekend. Then they screeched to a halt and got swept by the Houston Astros.
With seven losses in their first 12 games, the Yankees hope to get back on track when they start a nine-game homestand against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
New York hosts the White Sox, Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals after a disastrous trip to Houston. The Yankees blew the first two games in the late innings and then fell behind early in an 8-6 loss on Wednesday.
“We got to tighten up a little bit, play a little bit better, but I believe we are really close to turning the corner … this is a little bump in the road,” manager Aaron Boone said. “That is inevitable in a major league season, and we will work our way out of it.”
Among the bumps Boone was referring to is a bullpen that is 1-4 with a 3.97 ERA after allowing 10 runs in Houston. Another is an inconsistent offense that has had some big days but strikes out too much.
“We didn’t play our best baseball here,” said center fielder Brett Gardner after the Yankees struck out 13 times and were held to two runs until a four-run eighth Wednesday. “We were close to winning a couple of games here. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that. Offensively, we can be better.”
Another bump in the road is a series of injuries plaguing the Yankees. Already without Giancarlo Stanton (biceps), Miguel Andujar (shoulder), Troy Tulowitzki (calf) and Aaron Hicks (back), Gary Sanchez was limited to pinch-hitting Wednesday due to tightness in his lower legs.
Sanchez, who hit three of his six homers in Sunday’s 15-3 win at Baltimore, had two stints on the injured list with groin injuries last season.
Chicago heads to New York in worse condition than the Yankees. At 3-8, the White Sox are off to their worst start since 1997.
Since scoring 10 runs a week ago against the Seattle Mariners, the White Sox scored just 14 times during a five-game losing streak. The skid continued Wednesday when Chicago tied a season high by striking out 14 times in a 9-1 home loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
“We’re as frustrated as anyone else,” manager Rick Renteria said. “We’re looking for solutions. I told the guys we’re going to be all right. It’s something we have to weather.”
New York did not announce a starting pitcher after Wednesday’s game but is expected to start J.A. Happ (0-1, 6.48 ERA).
Happ has not lasted past beyond the fifth inning in his first two starts and took a no-decision Saturday in Baltimore when he allowed two runs and five hits while throwing 88 pitches in 4 1/3 innings.
Lucas Giolito (1-1, 5.73 ERA) will start for Chicago and has experienced mixed results in his first two outings. He allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings on March 31 at Kansas City, but allowed five runs on six hits in a no-decision last Friday against Seattle.
Happ is 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox and is facing Chicago for the first time as a Yankee.
Giolito will make his second start against the Yankees and first in New York. He took the loss on Aug. 8 when he allowed seven runs in five innings.