Numbah One isn’t happy.
Former WFAN host Mike Francesa had a warning for the New York Yankees following their 2-1 loss Thursday to the Houston Astros: “As I said last weekend, the Astros are every bit the equal of the Bombers.”
As you may remember, the Yankees and Astros split a four-game series last weekend at Yankee Stadium, thanks to a pair of walk-off hits by Aaron Judge. And that didn’t sit well with Francesa:
“Judge sent everybody home happy Sunday, but Astros proved this weekend they can stand toe- to-toe with the Bombers. Something to think about.”
And Francesa isn’t alone in praising the Astros. Consider what USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweeted Thursday:
The Houston Astros make a loud and powerful statement: They beat the #Yankees, 2-1, completing a surreal nine-game consecutive stint by going against the Yankees and Mets, and going 7-2. Their starting rotation: 1.52 ERA, yielding just 28 hits in 59.1 innings. Incredible.
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The Yankees continue their four-city, 10-game road trip on Friday by opening a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
Here’s what you need to know about Friday’s game from the Associated Press:
BOTTOM LINE
New York Yankees (56-21, first in the AL East) vs. Cleveland Guardians (39-34, second in the AL Central).
Cleveland; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT.
Cleveland has a 19-15 record at home and a 39-34 record overall. The Guardians have the seventh-ranked team on-base percentage in the AL at .309.
New York is 22-12 in road games and 56-21 overall. The Yankees have a 28-7 record in games when they record eight or more hits.
The matchup Friday is the fourth meeting between these teams this season.
PITCHING PROBABLES
Yankees: Gerrit Cole (6-2, 2.99 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 111 strikeouts).
Guardians: Aaron Civale (2-4, 7.20 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 39 strikeouts).
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE
Yankees -216, Guardians +179; over/under is 8 runs.
TOP PERFORMERS
Jose Ramirez has 25 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs and 63 RBI for the Guardians. Andres Gimenez is 11-for-34 with a double, two home runs and four RBI over the last 10 games.
Anthony Rizzo has 10 doubles, a triple, 21 home runs and 51 RBI while hitting .217 for the Yankees. DJ LeMahieu is 10-for-31 with a double and a home run over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES
Guardians: 4-6, .227 batting average, 5.60 ERA, outscored by 22 runs.
Yankees: 6-4, .167 batting average, 3.44 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs.
INJURIES
Guardians: Oscar Gonzalez: day-to-day (undisclosed), Austin Hedges: 7-Day IL (concussion), Carlos Vargas: 60-Day IL (elbow), James Karinchak: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cody Morris: 60-Day IL (shoulder).
Yankees: Jonathan Loaisiga: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Chad Green: 60-Day IL (elbow), Aroldis Chapman: 15-Day IL (achilles), Ben Rortvedt: 60-Day IL (oblique), Stephen Ridings: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Domingo German: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Zack Britton: 60-Day IL (elbow).
MORE MLB:
- Yankees, Mets are sitting pretty as 1st-place teams entering July
- Yankees are ‘perfect fit’ for All-Star outfielder on the trade market, MLB insider says
- MLB All-Star Game 2022 voting: 2 Yankees, 2 Mets could join Aaron Judge at Midsummer Classic
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.