Yankees at Athletics
The race for the top wild-card spot in the American League - and home field advantage in the play-in game - is intensifying by the day, and the Oakland Athletics look to make it even tighter when they continue a three-game series with the visiting New York Yankees on Tuesday. The Athletics hammered five extra-base hits among 10 total in a 6-3 win Monday to begin the series and move to within 3 1/2 games of the wild card-leading Yankees.
The victory also kept Oakland within 2 1/2 games of first place in the AL West and and 5 1/2 ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the second wild card. New York is 3-5 since an 8-1 surge and sits 8 1/2 games back in the AL East, but its most dependable starter of late is on the mound for Tuesday's critical matchup. J.A. Happ is 5-0 since being traded to the Yankees in July, although he finally was roughed up a bit in his most recent outing against Detroit. Oakland counters with Liam Hendriks as its opener in what figures to be a bullpen day.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH J.A. Happ (15-6, 4.00 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Liam Hendriks (0-1, 7.82)
Happ was knocked around for five runs and 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings against the Tigers on Thursday, although he did finish a start without issuing a walk for the first time since July 22. He had a 2.37 ERA in his first five appearances with the Yankees. The 35-year-old is 4-1 with a 3.69 ERA in 10 career games (eight starts) against Oakland.
Hendriks was utilized as the opener Saturday against Seattle - his first start in the majors since 2014 - and took the loss after giving up two runs over 1 2/3 innings. Andrew McCutchen is 2-for-4 with a triple, a double and three RBIs against the Australia native. Manager Bob Melvin indicated that Frankie Montas, who has a 3.96 ERA in 11 starts for Oakland, will get some innings in relief of Hendriks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton is 0-for-11 with six strikeouts over the last three games.
2. Athletics OF Stephen Piscotty is 9-for-23 with three homers and two doubles during a six-game hitting streak.
3. Oakland has won five straight at home against New York.