Yankees vs. Mets Preview
NEW YORK (AP) – Several New York Yankees are expected to be named to the AL All-Star team prior to Sunday’s series finale with the New York Mets.
The Mets might only have one player named to the NL roster, and right now he’s a little banged up.
The Mets appear unlikely to have Jose Reyes in their lineup as they try to avoid getting swept in the Subway Series, while the Yankees look to extend their season-best winning streak to eight games.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog have made the Yankees -125 money line favorites for Sunday’s game against the Mets. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 64% of more than 503 bets for this game have been placed on the Yankees -125.
Reyes left Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Yankees in the third inning because of a tight left hamstring. He injured it while beating out an infield single, and was scheduled for an MRI on Sunday morning.
“It’s not too much pain. I feel it a little bit,” said Reyes, who has a history of leg injuries. “I didn’t want to blow my hamstring again because I’ve been through a lot with that.”
Reyes has emerged as an MVP candidate, leading the NL with a .354 batting average, 124 hits, 15 triples and 65 runs.
The shortstop will likely be named to his fourth All-Star game, while Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran could also join him on the NL team.
The Yankees (50-31) could have five starters for the AL squad, as Russell Martin, Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson were all in position to get the automatic invite in the most recent fan voting results released Tuesday.
Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and Mariano Rivera also appear likely to attend the Midsummer Classic.
Cano hit a two-run triple and Granderson added his 22nd homer Saturday as New York became the first AL team to 50 victories, winning for the 17th time in 21 games.
“You’ve got to feel good with where we are right now,” Teixeira said.
Cano has played a big role in the Yankees’ seven-game winning streak – all over NL teams – driving in six runs over the last five games.
Rodriguez is helping power the offense, batting .452 with 10 RBIs in his last 11 games, raising his average 26 points to .304 in that span.
The three-time MVP has helped the Yankees go 4-1 against the Mets (41-42) this season by going 11 for 22. He is batting .545 with two doubles in 11 career at-bats against Sunday’s probable starter R.A. Dickey (4-7, 3.77 ERA).
The Yankees, a major league-best 13-4 in interleague play, counter with Freddy Garcia (7-6, 3.28), who is 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA in his last four starts.
Garcia gave up two runs and scattered eight hits with no walks in six innings of Tuesday’s 12-2 win over Milwaukee.
The veteran right-hander pitched well against the Mets on May 20, yielding two runs and five hits in seven innings, but was saddled with a 2-1 loss. Dickey earned the victory in that game, allowing one run and four hits in six innings.
The knuckleballer entered his last start against the Yankees with a 5.08 ERA but has gone 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA in eight outings since. He gave up three runs and 10 hits in seven innings of Tuesday’s 14-3 victor at Detroit.
That lopsided victory helped the Mets set a club record by scoring 52 runs in a four-game stretch. The offense has been nowhere near as potent in the last three games, totaling five runs while losing all three.
Beltran is 3 for 11 with a solo homer during the skid after hitting .400 with nine RBIs in his previous four contests. He is batting .438 with three homers and two doubles in 32 career at-bats against Garcia.
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