Game Preview: Texas Rangers @ New York Yankees 5/22

The New York Yankees are coming back down to Earth it seems and will either look to turn things around against the Texas Rangers this weekend or continue their slide in the American League East. The Yankees struggled in three consecutive series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Kansas City Royals and the Washington Nationals and will send Michael Pineda to the mound looking to be the stopper and the ace for New York. Opposing Big Mike for the Rangers is Colby Lewis. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

• Pineda is coming off possibly his worst start of the season last time out against the Kansas City Royals where the big RHP took his first loss of the season. Pineda only struck out one batter in the contest just one start after striking out 16 Baltimore Orioles on Mother’s Day. Pineda is 0-2 with a 4.74 ERA in his career against the Texas Rangers in three starts.

• Lewis has been solid in his last month or so of starts going 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA in his last five starts. Lewis has posted a 2-2 record with a 2.55 ERA in four road starts this season showing many that the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium will not affect Lewis in this start. Lewis went 1-1 against the team last season posting a 3.38 ERA and also owns a pair of victories against them in his career in the 2010 ALCS.

The Yankees and Rangers play an afternoon game tomorrow before being showcased on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Sunday where the team will honor Bernie Williams before the contest. The Yankees have a huge habit of losing these big time games where they honor their stars so let’s hope the team can turn that around this weekend in the Bronx. Go Yankees!