Game 140: Yanks VS. Rays

From PA:

YANKEES (75-64)
Damon LF
Jeter SS
A. Rodriguez 3B
Nady RF
Giambi DH
I. Rodriguez C
Cano 2B
Ransom 1B
Gardner CF
Rasner RHP

RAYS (84-53)
Iwamura 2B
Upton CF
Pena 1B
Floyd DH
Aybar 3B
Hinske LF
Navarro C
Gross RF
Bartlett SS
Kazmir LHP

Matsui will get the day off against the tough lefty. I was listening to the ESPN announcers yesterday and they noted that Matsui has had a tough time since returning to the lineup. While that is somewhat true, especially when you compare what he’s doing now to what he did before his knee injury (peppering the ball over the field), Matsui is still hitting when it counts. He’s hit safely in his last 5 games and has driven in 6 runs during that time. In fact, he’s had 12 hits since his return and with that, 10 RBI. He’s playing hurt (that is certainly clear) and therefore the power is gone for the season, but his presence in the lineup has really provided a spark to the team.

UPDATE (6:17) – PA brings us some major changes to the lineup (as seen above). Bobby Abreu reportedly hurt his wrist in yesterday’s game (sliding into 2nd), and couldn’t play today. There’s no word as to how serious the injury is, but the Yankees could call upon Justin Christian or Melky Cabrera.

UPDATE (7:40) – Abreu had X-Rays taken and they were negative. I wouldn’t expect him to miss much time, if any, after today. This probably hinders Melky or Christian’s return, since Cashman noted that he would only call them up if they were truly needed.