Only seven exhibition games and nine days until Opening Day. At this time next week, the Yankees will be done with their exhibition schedule and will be enjoying the first of two off-days leading into the regular season opener. We’re getting there. Real baseball is close.
Luis Cessa was originally scheduled to start this afternoon’s game against the Rays, but that won’t happen. He will pitch at some point. Don’t worry. The Yankees are trying out the opener strategy today and giving Chad Green the start instead. Green’s a logical opener candidate and today is more about getting him comfortable with the role than seeing the results. The Yankees really should use an opener for their fill-in starters. Hopefully today is an indication they are leaning that way. Here is the Rays’ lineup and here are the players the Yankees will use today:
- CF Brett Gardner
- RF Aaron Judge
- DH Giancarlo Stanton
- C Gary Sanchez
- 3B Miguel Andujar
- 1B Greg Bird
- 2B Gleyber Torres
- SS Troy Tulowitzki
- LF Clint Frazier
RHP Chad Green
Available Position Players: C Francisco Diaz, C Ryan Lavarnway, C Jorge Saez, 1B Ryan McBroom, IF Angel Aguilar, IF Thairo Estrada, IF Kyle Holder, IF Hoy Jun Park, OF Devyn Bolasky, OF Billy Burns, OF Jeff Hendrix, OF Matt Lipka. McBroom, Aguilar, Estrada, Park, Bolasky, and Hendrix are extra players up from minor league camp.
Available Pitchers: RHP Braden Bristo, LHP Zack Britton, LHP Rex Brothers, RHP Luis Cessa, LHP Danny Coulombe, LHP Anderson Severino, RHP David Sosebee. Bristo, Severino, and Sosebee are the extra arms up from minor league camp.
The weather in Tampa is not great today. It rained all morning, and even though the heaviest stuff is over, there are still some scattered sprinkles in the forecast throughout the afternoon. A gloomy day for baseball. Today’s game will begin at 1:05pm ET and you can watch live on YES and MLB.tv. There are no MLB.tv blackouts during Spring Training. Enjoy the game.