Twins at Yankees
The New York Yankees' offense is beginning to flex its muscle amid an impressive three-game winning streak, but it will be tested by red-hot right-hander Jose Berrios in the continuation of a four-game series with the visiting Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Berrios entered Monday's action leading all qualified hurlers in the majors with a 0.58 WHIP and will contend with a Yankees team that has outscored opponents 28-3 during its three-game run.
Four players went deep and every starter scored at least one time for New York in a 14-1 win in the series opener Monday. Rookie Miguel Andujar had one of the homers and added a double to give him 12 extra-base hits in a span of seven games while driving in at least one run in each of the last six contests. It was the fourth straight loss for the Twins, who have allowed an average of 10 runs during the slide. Berrios will be opposed by veteran CC Sabathia, who will be making his second start since returning from a hip injury.
TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS North (Minnesota), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (2-1, 1.63 ERA) vs. Yankees LH CC Sabathia (0-0, 2.70)
Berrios is unscored upon in three of his first four starts after limiting Cleveland to three hits over seven scoreless innings on Wednesday. He has 29 strikeouts against one walk and opponents are hitting .155 against the Puerto Rico native. Berrios is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two career starts against New York but was reached for three runs on five hits and four walks in just 3 1/3 frames in his only prior outing at Yankee Stadium.
Sabathia returned from an early stint on the disabled list Thursday at home against Toronto and gave up two unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings. He has completed five frames just once in his first three outings while throwing an average of 71 pitches. The 37-year-old defeated the Twins with six solid innings in their lone encounter last season and is 19-9 with a 3.16 ERA in 38 career starts against them.
WALK-OFFS
1. Andujar is 15-for-29 during his seven-game hitting streak.
2. Minnesota 1B Joe Mauer has played 1,747 games with the team, tied with Kent Hrbek for third on the franchise's all-time list and 36 behind Kirby Puckett.
3. Yankees OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton was 4-for-4 with a home run Monday after going 2-for-31 over his previous eight home games.