Yankees at Tigers (Game 2)
The New York Yankees have nearly been unstoppable since splitting their first 18 games this season, although Mother Nature has done her best to cool off the club. After being postponed for the seventh time in 2018, the Yankees (37-17) will visit the Detroit Tigers (28-31) on Monday for a doubleheader that came to pass after the teams had a game postponed on April 14 and again the following day.
Miguel Andujar, who has hit safely in 16 of his last 19 games, had a triple and a double while scoring twice in New York's 8-6 victory at Detroit on April 13. Aaron Hicks had an inside-the-park homer to go along with a conventional shot in that contest, and enters Monday's tilts after going 6-for-11 with three RBIs and as many runs scored in his last three games after an 0-for-13 stretch. While the Yankees have won 28 of 36 to keep the heat on Boston in the American League East, Detroit sustained its first loss since a Canada Goose became a beloved fixture at Comerica Park on Wednesday. Leonys Martin homered to extend his hitting streak to five games in Sunday's 8-4 setback versus Toronto and will bid to atone for his earlier miscue against the Yankees, when he missed a carom off the wall to allow Hicks to circle the bases.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, YES (New York), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Domingo German (0-3, 5.45 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Mike Fiers (4-3, 4.45)
German fell to 0-2 with a 9.42 ERA in his last three starts (14 1/3 innings) after allowing four runs over 5 2/3 frames in Monday's 5-1 loss to Houston. The 25-year-old Dominican was taken deep for the fourth time in three outings against the Astros after keeping the ball in the park in four of his previous five trips to the mound. German was slated to start Sunday's game against Baltimore before the threat of rain resulted in a postponement, thus putting him in line for his first career outing versus Detroit.
Fiers is searching for his first win since May 14 despite allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings before a rain delay led to his no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. The 32-year-old was blitzed for six runs on eight hits across 5 2/3 frames on April 13 versus New York, against which he is 0-1 with a 6.20 ERA in four career starts. Giancarlo Stanton (1-for-8, four strikeouts) and Brett Gardner (2-for-11) have struggled against Fiers, although Hicks (3-for-5, two homers) and Aaron Judge (3-for-8, homer) have gotten their licks in.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit has recorded at least one two-base hit in 50 consecutive games, one shy of the 1999 Atlanta Braves for third place on the all-time list.
2. New York is sporting a scintillating 10-1 record against AL Central representatives this season.
3. Tigers 3B Jeimer Candelario has reached base in 28 straight games, tied for the 10th-longest streak in team history since 2001.