The runs are coming more frequently for the New York Yankees, and they hope it bodes well for a crucial four-game series against the Boston Red Sox this weekend.
First, the Yankees will seek a continuation of their recent production when they host the Houston Astros on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game series.
New York is 11-6 over its past 17 games. Since being held without a hit for 6 2/3 innings by Toronto’s Dylan Cease in Saturday’s 4-3 loss, the Yankees have 24 runs in their past three games and are batting .333 (35-for-105) while hitting .367 (11-for-30) with runners in scoring position.
In Wednesday’s 9-3 win over Houston, New York had 13 hits, equaling its highest total since the All-Star break.
The Yankees will seek a fourth straight game with 10-plus hits for the second time this season after accomplishing the feat from May 1-4, when they scored 39 runs in a four-game sweep of the Orioles.
“This is more in line with what I believe we’re capable of offensively,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully, we continue to ascend.”
New York’s production at the plate coincides with Cody Bellinger returning from missing 25 games with a strained left hamstring. He hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning Wednesday and is batting .333 (19-for-57) in his past 15 games. And Jazz Chisholm Jr. is hitting .435 (10-for-23) in his past seven games after getting three hits Wednesday.
Luis Garcia Jr. homered for the third time in four games Wednesday and is batting .462 (12-for-26) over his past seven games.
Houston, meanwhile, has lost 10 of its last 16 games and will attempt to avoid its fourth straight series loss.
Yordan Alvarez enters Thursday’s games with an MLB-leading .322 batting average and is hitting .543 (19-for-35) in an eight-game hitting streak against the Yankees.
Despite Alvarez’s prowess at the plate, the Astros are struggling out of the bullpen of late. Houston relievers have allowed six runs and have an 8.76 ERA in the past six games.
“I expect our starters to start getting us deep in the game, but right now taking your starter out in the fourth inning could wear down on you,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “We’re trying to navigate those waters, but we’ll find a way.”
Right-hander Gerrit Cole (7-6, 3.11 ERA), who has yielded three runs or less in nine straight starts, will start on Thursday for the Yankees. Cole last pitched a week ago in Baltimore and allowed one run on four hits in six innings in a 6-1 victory.
Cole is 1-2 with a 2.57 ERA in four career regular-season starts against the Astros.
Fellow right-hander Hayden Wesneski (3-1, 4.23 ERA), who was traded by the Yankees in a 2022 deadline deal to the Chicago Cubs, will start for Houston on Thursday. He is coming off his best outing so far.
After getting tagged for five runs against the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 15, Wesneski allowed one hit in five innings during a 4-0 win over the Athletics on Friday.
He will face the Yankees for the first time in his career.
–Field Level Media
Discussion about this post