Opposite dugout: Suspended game, makeup bring Yankees back to D.C.

yankees-logo.jpgManager: Aaron Boone (1st year)

Record: 46-21

Last 10 games: 7-3

Who to watch: 3B Miguel Andújar (.293/.321/.515 with 28 RBIs), 2B Gleyber Torres (.283 with 13 HR, 34 RBIs), RF Aaron Judge (18HR, 46 RBIs), LF Giancarlo Stanton (16 HR, 37 RBIs), C Gary Sánchez (13 HR, 39 RBIs), RHP Sonny Gray (4-4, 4.98 ERA), LHP Aroldis Chapman (1.17 ERA, 20 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: 1-1

Pitching probables:

June 18: Suspended game resumes at 5:05 p.m. on MASN
June 18: RHP Sonny Gray (4-4) vs. RHP Erick Fedde (0-1), game begins 30 minutes after conclusion of suspended game, MASN

Inside the Yankees:

The schedule says the Yankees paid a trip to Nationals Park in mid-May, but the ledger says otherwise. The first of two games was suspended in the bottom of the sixth inning with Bryce Harper ready to hit when rains became too intense to continue. The storm lasted long enough to wash out the next night's scheduled game, and both the suspended game and the rescheduled game will - hopefully - be played tonight in D.C. starting at 5:05 p.m., with the postponed game commencing 30 minutes after the completion of the suspended game. New York boasts the best record in the majors at 46-21 and leads the American League East by percentage points over the Red Sox.

The Yankees rank first in the majors in home runs (113) and slugging percentage (.462), and third in runs (359), on-base percentage (.330) and total bases (1,071). Young players account for a lot of the damage, and reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton has hit 16 homers and driven in 37 runs. But it's the kids that are drawing rave reviews: 23-year-old third baseman Miguel Andújar is batting ..293; 21-year-old second baseman Gleyber Torres has 13 home runs in 48 games since being recalled from Triple-A; and 26-year-old right fielder Aaron Judge, last year's unanimous pick for AL Rookie of the Year, leads the Bronx Bombers with 18 homers and 46 RBIs.

Masahiro Tanaka won't take the mound when the suspended game resumes; he was placed on the 10-day disabled list on June 8 with hamstring issues in both legs after running the bases in an interleague battle against the Mets. Besides, Brett Gardner pinch-hit for him in the top of the sixth. That means the Yankees bullpen will be tasked with trying to hold the Nats in check. In the makeup game, right-hander Sonny Gray will pitch for the Yankees and try to atone for allowing four runs in five innings against the Nats in New York on June 13. On the road this season, Gray is 2-2 with a 2.83 ERA in six starts with a .217/.292/.287 slash line against. But he's 1-4 with a 6.25 ERA in nine night outings.

Should the Yankees carry a lead to the ninth, hard-throwing lefty Aroldis Chapman will try for the save. He's converted 20 of 21 save chances this season with a 1.17 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. He's fanned 53 in 30 2/3 innings.




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