After splitting a four-game series with the Detroit Tigers, the New York Yankees head west for an important three-game series with the Oakland Athletics as Aaron Hicks continues to be a steady on-base machine for the Bronx Bombers this season.
Hicks has 35 walks in 40 games since the All-Star break, which leads all of baseball and his .409 on-base percentage also ranks among the league leaders.
For the season Hicks has 23 home runs, 65 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. Furthermore, the Yankees are 17-4 this season when Hicks homers.
The Yankees, who have won six of their last 10 games, will have to be at their best to beat a tough Athletics team that is chasing them for the first spot of the Wild Card. Right now, the Bombers have a 4.5 lead on the A’s, who have won two of their last three and are currently trailing the division-leading Houston Astros by 2.5 games.
In Game 1 on Labor Day CC Sabathia (7-5, 3.36 ERA) takes the mound opposite Trevor Cahill (5-3, 3.60 ERA). The veteran southpaw looks to continue his strong performances in September after a strong month of August where he pitched to a 2.70 ERA, striking out 35 batters and walking just 14 over a span of five games.
On Tuesday night, J.A Happ (15-6, 4.00 ERA) toes the rubber against the A’s Australian pitcher Liam Hendricks (0-1, 7.82 ERA). In 2018 Happ is 5-2 in nine road starts, holding opposing hitters to a .208 batting average and pitching to a 2.65 ERA. Happ is unbeaten in last six starts and won five straight games between July 29 and August 25.
In Wednesday’s finale, the Bombers will send Luis Severin0 (17-6, 3.32 ERA) to the mound against Mike Fiers (10-6, 3.38 ERA). Severino, who’s won two of his last three outings, has torched the A.L West this season as he’s unbeaten in six starts and pitched a complete game shutout at Houston back on May 2.
Severino has a 4-0 record and has pitched to a 2.71 ERA against A.L West batters amassing 46 strikeouts and allowing just 10 walks.
