Photo Credit: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Opening Day is here!
Through a long winter filled with lockouts, free-agent signings, and trades, the New York Yankees are back to resume their Chase for 28. Their opening series opponents, none other than the Boston Red Sox, are one of the division’s most potent teams headed into 2022. This matchup will prove exciting and just a tiny taste of what’s to come for the entirety of 2022.
Here is the information to watch and listen to the Yankees games this weekend:
Thursday
1:05 PM
Watch on: YES Network
Listen on: 101.9FM or 660AM
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Saturday
4:05 PM
Watch on: YES Network/FS1
Listen on: 101.9FM or 660AM
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Sunday
7:08 PM
Watch on: ESPN
Listen on: 101.9FM or 660AM
The Yankees will be looking for revenge this weekend with Boston to avenge their Wild Card loss in Fenway last October. The Yankees hold a lifetime 1,246-1,044 record against Boston, and of that record, are 672-468 when playing the Sox at home. Statistically speaking, the odds would favor the Yankees to start the season on a high note. Both clubs made key additions and some subtractions from their respective clubhouses in preparation for the 2022 season.
Yankees additions: Anthony Rizzo (re-signed as UFA), Miguel Castro (trade), Josh Donaldson (trade), Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (trade), Jose Trevino (trade),
Yankees subtractions: Gary Sanchez (trade), Gio Urshela (trade), Andrew Heaney (free agency), Corey Kluber (free agency)
Red Sox additions: Trevor Story (free agency), James Paxton (free agency), Jake Diekman (free agency)
Red Sox subtractions: Kyle Schwarber (free agency), Eduardo Rodriguez (free agency)
In 2021, the Yankees (92-70, T-2 AL East) had a good season but had their struggles along the way. Looking to rebound off this, the Bronx Bombers must get through their biggest rival in the MLB to do so. With Gerrit Cole being the likely and obvious opening day starter for the Yanks, pitching could (or hopefully, should) be the least of their concern going into their opening matinee Thursday.
Projecting the Yankees Opening Day Positional Alignment
C- Kyle Higashioka
1B- Anthony Rizzo
2B- Gleyber Torres
3B- Josh Donaldson
SS- Isiah Kiner-Falefa
LF- Joey Gallo
CF- Aaron Hicks
RF- Aaron Judge
P- Gerrit Cole
DH- Giancarlo Stanton
There isn’t a ton to predict here. The lineup is pretty straightforward, and most Yankee fans should know what to expect. The only question will be if DJ LeMahieu or Gleyber Torres gets the nod at second base. Most people… probably everyone would prefer to see DJ starting the season holding down the middle infield. But with Gleyber Torres being in what some call a “make or break season,” it’s hard to rationalize him not getting the start Thursday afternoon. Maybe manager Aaron Boone can have Isiah Kiner-Falefa come off the bench for Thursday and let him start the game Saturday instead. Time will tell, and by time, I mean we have to wait for the lineup to be released on Thursday morning.
Players to Watch: Josh Donaldson, Kyle Higashioka, and Joey Gallo
These players all are in positions where they need to win over the fans. Higgy, at least for now, looks like he will be the guy behind the dish full time this season. Coming off a season with subpar hitting numbers (.181/.246/.635), the best way to start the season is to make his presence known against the Yankees’ most prominent foe. Josh Donaldson, as I stated in a previous article (you can find that article here: https://bit.ly/3DYBic9 ), is a veteran bat that is still producing and, in a ballpark with smaller dimensions compared to Target Field in Minnesota, should be a perfect recipe for Donaldson to carry over his success into New York. One element that may linger as concerning would be a “strained” relationship with Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. During the “sticky stuff” scandal of 2021, Donaldson had some choice words for whether or not Cole actively used the illegal substance. Though both men have acknowledged this and have both stated the issue is squashed and focused on a championship, one could only imagine it will still be something to look for later into the season. Joey Gallo has the most to prove of the three. Coming off a lackluster performance through the second half of 2021, Gallo was heavily criticized by fans and media alike for his struggles. The hope would be that with an entire season in pinstripes along with a lockout-extended offseason to clear his mind, Gallo will be a more productive player offensively for 2022. Like Higgy, Gallos’ best opportunity to win fans over would be to take out his frustrations on the Red Sox to begin 2022.
Like any other opening series or series in general, there will be plenty of excitement to kick-off 2022. For a fan of the game, the Yankees and the Red Sox going head to head once again is one of the best ways to do it.
Series Prediction: Yankees over the Red Sox, 2 games to 1.
