The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees are playing live on the MLB Spring training schedule and the Grapefruit League matchup is from The Boss at George M. Steinbrenner Field starting up at 7:05 pm ET as NY hosts the central division winners from last season ahead of playing the Mets on Wednesday at home.
The Yankees come into the game after a loss against the Nationals and they will next play against the New York Mets on the schedule. The team has been dealing with some injuries this spring, but so far players like Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia have been healthy. Those two need to stay healthy this season for any chance at the Yankees making the playoffs, as they both went down last year and that was a big hit to the pitching rotation.
The Yankees have not had Jacoby Ellsbury since the middle of the month after he came down with an oblique injury and now he could be out for the first week of the season if he is not back soon. The team has not yet named an Opening Day starter, but it likely will be either Sabathia or Tanaka, as they are the highest profile players in the rotation. The team also has a fifth starter competition and manager Joe Girardi said he has not made any final decisions yet.
The Yankees are hoping that Ellsbury will not be out for too much longer, as he is one of the most important players to the lineup. Ellsbury had a very solid debut season in NY last year and he is looking to be even better this season, but he has not been able to work out or swing a bat while dealing with the strain and that could affect the start of the season for him. Ellsbury also missed time last spring with an injury and in the past he has dealt with injuries while playing for the Red Sox. Ellsbury had a calf issue last season, but it did not stop him from hitting .312 with eight stolen bases in April and that is a good stretch to look back on if he can't get back on the field before Opening Day.
Ellsbury has played in nine games this spring and is hitting .222 with six hits in 27 at-bats in the various spring games. Ellsbury has time, as the season starts a week into April this season. Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller are the anchors of the bullpen, but right now Girardi has not selected who the closer will be. Miller had a strong season with the Orioles and Betances had a breakout year in 2014 pitching behind David Robertson. The Yankees let Robertson leave for the White sox and now they have to figure out who the closer will be.
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