Cliff Lee vs. Phil Hughes

The Yanks and M’s begin a three-game set in the Bronx tonight, with future ace Phil Hughes going against future Yankee Cliff Lee.

Hughes is coming off a skipped start and brings a 10-1 record with a 3.17 ERA into the start. Despite a 6-1 record, he has kind of looked like dog shit for the better part of his last seven starts. He’s given up 46 hits in 43 1/3 innings with 23 runs (six homers), a 4.78 ERA while opponents are hitting .269/.311/.427, although his K/BB ratio is still pretty amazing — 39-11. Hopefully the extra rest will do him good against a Seattle team that ranks dead last in the AL in runs scored (255 compared to the Yanks’ 409), hits (597), doubles (111), homers (44), total bases (858), RBI (244), batting average (.239) and among the bottom two in every other major offensive category. In other words: don’t be surprised if you see Phil toss a no-no tonight. (knocking on wood furiously)

Cliff Lee, on the other hand, has been more or less lights out over his last six starts. The lefty has thrown complete games in three of said games while failing to finish eight innings just once, while giving up a total of nine earned runs over that six-game span. Criff Ree has held opposing hitters to .207/.218/.288/.506 in his last six and .227/.234/.320/.554 for the year. His K/BB ratio (44-3) puts Hughes’ to shame, and that ratio for the season (76-4) is incredible. FOUR WALKS IN 86 2/3 INNINGS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? He’ll look great in pinstripes (for the record I don’t think they should trade any prospects for him, they should just wait until the offseason when he’s a free agent).

Tuesday night could be a pitchers’ duel for the ages…then again I said the same thing about this game.

Here are the pitching match ups for the rest of the series:

Wednesday 7:05:

RHP Javy (6-6, 5.16 ERA) vs. RHP King Felix (5-5, 3.28)

Thursday 1:05:

LHP CC (9-3, 3.49) vs. TBA

LET’S GO YANKS!!!!