A pair of American League teams, one heading to the postseason and one heading to the offseason, play their final regular season contest in the Lone Star State. The New York Yankees are on the road as they finish up a four-game set with the Texas Rangers Wednesday afternoon. In the opening game of the series on Monday night, it was the Yankees earning a 3-1 victory to draw first blood in the set. Which team closes the regular season with a victory in this contest? This article was published prior to the conclusion of both games of the doubleheader between the teams Tuesday at Globe Life Field.
New York, despite having nothing to play for as they are locked into the second seed in the AL playoff picture, won the opening game of this series Monday night. The Yankees entered Tuesday 98-61 on the season so as long as they at least split Tuesday’s doubleheader, they’ll have a shot at 100 wins this season for the first time since 2019. On Monday night, New York got two hits each from Oswaldo Peraza and Kyle Higashioka (RBI) while Marwin Gonzalez (his sixth) and Giancarlo Stanton (his 30th) each homered in the victory. Luis Severino (7-3) earned the win as he threw seven shutout innings, allowing no hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Scott Effross worked a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out one, for his fourth save.
Domingo German is on the mound for his 15th appearance and 14th start of the season for the Yankees in this contest. He comes in 2-4 with a 3.31 ERA, a 1.118 WHIP, 18 walks and 52 strikeouts over 68 innings of work this season. German took the loss in his last start, which came at home against the Orioles Friday night. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts in a game the Yankees lost 3-1. In his last three starts, German is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, five walks and 13 strikeouts over 12 innings of work. German makes his third career start against the Rangers in this contest. He comes in 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA, a 1.219 WHIP, three walks and 11 strikeouts over 10.2 innings of work against them. In his lone start against the Rangers at Globe Life Field, which came on May 20, 2021, he earned the victory. German threw seven scoreless frames, allowing six hits with no walks and five strikeouts in a 2-0 Yankees victory.