Yanks Go Yard Radio Show: Dodgers-Yankees (9/12-9/14)

On last night’s Yanks Go Yard Radio Show, we look ahead to the Dodgers first visit to Yankee Stadium since 2013

At the beginning of last night’s Yanks Go Yard Radio Show, I started off by talking about the New York Yankees (76-66) taking three out of four from the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend. Even though Luis Cessa gave up three home runs yesterday in a loss, the offense got two home runs from Gary Sanchez during the series and a walk-off home run from Tyler Austin on Thursday.

During this homestand, the Yankees are 6-1 and have pulled to within four games of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. Plus, they are two games behind the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card race. Tonight, the Yankees begin their final series on the homestand against the Los Angeles Dodgers (80-62).

Despite all the injuries to the starting rotation and missing ace Clayton Kershaw for a long period of time because of a back injury, the Dodgers have a three game lead over the Giants in the NL West. At the trade deadline, the Dodgers traded for Rich Hill from the A’s. Hill was pulled Saturday night against the Marlins after seven innings despite having a perfect game.

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On offense, the Dodgers are tied with the Reds for third in the National League in runs scored since the All-Star Break. The player to watch is shortstop Corey Seager, who looks like the favorite for NL Rookie of the Year. He is hitting .357 with eight home runs and 26 RBI’s in his last 48 games. Plus, they have three players with ten or more home runs since the break (Yasmani Grandal, Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner).

In the bullpen, closer Kenley Jansen is 43-for-49 in saves, but he has a 0.65 WHIP and he has 40 strikeouts to only three walks in 23 innings. Including Jansen, Dave Roberts has a bullpen that has the second lowest ERA of any NL team (3.31).

To talk more about the Dodgers, my guest on last night’s Yanks Go Yard Radio Show was Andrew Scherer from Dodgers Way. Andrew gave his take on the decision to take Hill out of the game Saturday and does he think 2016 is Yasiel Puig’s last season with the Dodgers. Here are some of the other topics we discussed:

• Surprised the Dodgers lead in the NL West?
• State of the starting rotation right now
• Is Dave Roberts the NL Manager of the Year right now?
• Pitching Matchup Breakdown
• Scouting Report on Jose De Leon (Tonight’s Dodgers starter)
• Bryan Mitchell (Monday’s Yankees starter) not getting many first pitch strikes in his last outing
• Will tomorrow be Julio Urias’ last start of the season with LA?
• Why CC Sabathia might have some success tomorrow against the Dodgers?
• Takeaways from Clayton Kershaw’s (Wednesday’s Dodgers starter) start last Friday
• Michael Pineda (Wednesday’s Yankees starter) hasn’t finished five innings since August 29
• Yankees hitters to watch: Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius
• Dodgers hitters to watch: Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Reddick
• Confidence in the bullpen behind Jansen
• Favorite Vin Scully moment

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