When & Where To Watch
Tonight: YES and the YES App will have the Postgame Show following action on Apple TV+, where coverage is going to start at 7:00.
Tomorrow: YES and the YES App will have the Postgame Show following action on FOX, where coverage is going to start at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday: Coverage on YES and the YES App begins at 12:30 p.m. with Yankees Batting Practice Today
Pinstriped Pulse
At 51-26, the Yankees have the most wins in the Majors and are a half-game ahead of Baltimore atop the American League East. Leading MLB in a host of individual categories, Aaron Judge connected for his MLB-leading 27th home run in Thursday’s game against the Orioles. Giancarlo Stanton is batting .375 with three homers during an eight-game hitting streak. Ben Rice has a couple of hits in three games since coming up from the Minors in the wake of Anthony Rizzo’s arm injury. Tim Hill made his Yankees debut yesterday, working out of the bullpen shortly after signing with the team. Obtained to give the Yanks some pitching depth after Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet went on the injured list, the 34-year-old Hill made 27 appearances for the White Sox this season before being designated for assignment and released, plus he previously pitched for Kansas City and San Diego earlier in his career.
How ‘Bout That
Patience has always been a virtue at the plate for Juan Soto! On Thursday he drew the 700th walk of his career, doing so in his 853rd career game and becoming the fourth-fastest player by games to reach that mark. The only ones who got there faster were the iconic Ted Williams (775), Max Bishop of the mid-1920s Philadelphia A’s (795) and one of baseball’s top sluggers of the ‘90s and early 2000s, Hall of Famer Frank Thomas (836).
Know The Foe
Having won six of their last seven games, the 41-31 Braves have a comfortable grip on the first Wild Card playoff spot in the National League as the calendar heads towards the end of June, although Atlanta trails the division-leading Phillies by seven games in the NL East. Marcell Ozuna is batting .316 with 20 home runs and an NL-high 63 RBI. Ozuna also ranks third in the league in average behind Jurickson Profar and Shohei Ohtani and second in homers, one behind Ohtani. Matt Olson is the only other Braves player with double-digit homers at 11. Austin Riley is batting .526 over his last six games with three home runs. Jarred Kelenic enters the Bronx riding a seven-game hitting streak. Closer Raisel Iglesias has converted each of his last 11 save opportunities and 19 of 21 this year. Atlanta is playing without reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. after he tore his left ACL in late May. Other injured Braves of note include another outfielder in Michael Harris Jr. and 20-game winner Spencer Strider.
Probable Pitchers
Carlos Rodón will take the ball in the series opener this evening when he starts opposite Chris Sale, who is 9-2 with a 2.98 ERA in his first season with Atlanta after being traded there by the Red Sox in December. Marcus Stroman gets the call tomorrow while the Braves counter with Charlie Morton. Holding a 3.91 ERA, the 40-year-old Morton is the third-oldest player in MLB behind Justin Verlander and a player who has yet to appear in the Majors this season due to injury, Joey Votto. Nestor Cortes and Max Fried will toe the slab Sunday.
A New Partnership
YES & Willow by Cricbuzz, which offers more live, streaming & on-demand cricket than any other sports service, have partnered on a deal to air seven matches featuring the defending Major League Cricket champion MI New York this upcoming MLC season. These matches will be available on both YES & the YES App, as well on Willow by Cricbuzz’s TV network & its streaming platform starting with the Friday, July 5 season-opener pitting MI New York against the 2023 runners-up Seattle Orcas. Led by elite West Indian batter Kieron Pollard, MI New York is gearing up to defend its inaugural title.
The Story Of My Number
A show featuring some of your favorite Yankees greats just wrapped its first season and is streaming on the YES App! Hosted by Gracie Cashman, The Story of My Number presented by New York Lottery highlights pinstriped icons talking about their lives on and off the field through the prism of numbers. Episodes featuring Aaron Boone, Tino Martinez, Andy Pettitte, Don Mattingly, Nick Swisher and CC Sabathia are available. Additionally on the YES App, other shows recently added include two editions of Home Plate New York – one featuring Harlem Globetrotters “Jet” Rivers and “Hot Shot” Swanson, plus another featuring Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito and his agent Sean Stellato.