The New York Yankees will have a measure of revenge on their minds when they open a three-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.
Last season, the Reds swept the Yankees in a three-game set over the Fourth of July holiday at Yankee Stadium. Two years ago, the Yankees swept the Reds in a three-game series in Cincinnati.
The Yankees have won three of four after a season-high six-game losing streak. The Reds snapped a three-game skid Sunday with a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, salvaging the finale of the three-game set.
Even with the series loss, the Reds have won 10 of 15, with Matt McLain entering Monday on a 10-game hitting streak, matching a career best.
The Yankees have been dealt another hit to their rotation. With Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery), Marcus Stroman (left knee inflammation) and Luis Gil (right lat strain) already on the injured list, the Yankees saw another starter join them on Sunday when left-hander Ryan Yarbrough was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right oblique strain.
Taking his place and starting Monday night’s series opener in Cincinnati will be right-hander Allan Winans, making his Yankees debut after parts of two seasons with the Atlanta Braves. With the Braves, Winans was 1-4 with a 7.20 ERA in eight starts.
Winans was claimed off waivers by the Yankees in January and has been overpowering for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In nine starts and 11 appearances for the RailRiders, he posted a 7-0 record and a 0.90 ERA, allowing just five earned runs in 50 innings.
“He’s been tremendous,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “To be this deep into the season and (be) a starting pitcher with a sub-1.00 (ERA), it’s been really excellent. So, hopefully, he’ll bring some of that up here with us.”
Winans will make his second career start against Cincinnati. Last July 24, he allowed seven runs on six hits, including two home runs, over 2 2/3 innings in the opener of a doubleheader as the Reds rolled to a 9-4 win.
The Yankees are hopeful that Stroman could return to the rotation before the All-Star break, as the right-hander has made two rehab starts at Double-A Somerset and is in line for another on Tuesday.
The Reds will counter with left-hander Nick Lodolo (5-5, 3.71). Last Wednesday, Lodolo earned a rain-shortened 4-2 complete-game win against Minnesota, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings.
Lodolo, with nine quality starts on the season, has never faced the Yankees.
On Sunday, the Reds escaped St. Louis with a win thanks to left-hander Andrew Abbott, who retired the last 18 batters he faced. Abbott held the Cardinals to one run on three hits over seven innings in sweltering 100-degree heat.
“We played really good ball in the series,” Abbott said. “I think we’re starting to figure it out on all ends, defense, offense and then pitching. We’re just remaining steady. The bullpen (arms) have been dogs the entire year. And I just think we had some bad luck in the first few games. But just keep playing hard and those breaks will happen for us.”
–Field Level Media
