The NY Mets and the New York Yankees are playing live on the MLB spring training schedule on Wednesday and the game from George M. Steinbrenner Field starts up at 1:05 pm ET and has Masahiro Tanaka on the mound for the Yanks and that puts him in line for the Opening Day start for the 2015 season.
The Yankees come into the game after a win over the Tigers that saw the team comes back late and they will next play against the Tampa Bay Rays. The team was down five runs to the Tigers but came back and while these spring training games don't always mean much, it was a good opportunity for Joe Girardi to see his team play from behind. Tanaka will get the ball on Wednesday and the Yankees need him to stay healthy for any chance at competing.
Tanaka dealt with an elbow issue last season and they are hoping he can make it through the year without needing to undergo Tommy John surgery. The team is likely set to make him the Opening Day starter, as the pitching lines up that way if things hold for the rest of the spring. CC Sabathia has been the starter on Opening Day since 2008 and now Tanaka could take the reins from him.
The Yankees have some major questions going forward, including who will take over at closer and who will be the fifth starter in the rotation after Chris Capuano was injured. Dellin Betances has been up and down this spring and with Andrew Miller signed, it's likely one of those two players takes over for David Robertson as the closer.
The Yankees come in after scoring four runs in the ninth in the game against the Tigers and in the game Alex Rodriguez got a couple of at-bats with a single and a walk. Rodriguez is playing well so far and has been solid with a .286 average while going 8 for 28 and a couple home runs. The team is likely to use A-Rod as a DH and as a backup at third and first base with Chase Headley coming in to start at third this season.
Betances has had his velocity down this spring and while it's not a major concern, the team will watch him carefully as the next week unfolds. Betances was fantastic last season coming out of the bullpen ahead of Robertson and now he could have the same role if Miller is the closer. Girardi also said that Adam Warren has pitched well and could be in line to be the fifth starter when the season opens up. The Mets come in after a loss to the Astros and they play the Nationals next.
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