Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies 6/24

For the final time this week the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies will play a game head-to-head inside Yankee Stadium. Today is an extra special day for Yankees fans as today marks the return of Ivan Nova off the disabled list. Nova worked himself all the way back from Tommy John surgery and will pitch this afternoon as the Yankees temporarily expand their starting rotation to a six-man rotation. The man opposing Nova today may be a future Yankee if he is traded at this year’s July 31^st trading deadline, Cole Hamels. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

• Nova finally makes his return from Tommy John surgery after missing the last 14 months after the ulnar collateral ligament was replaced in his right throwing elbow. Nova last pitched for the Yankees on April 19, 2014 before hearing a pop in his elbow while facing the Tampa Bay Rays. Nova has never faced the Phillies in his career and is good for around 95 pitches this afternoon in the Bronx.

• Hamels missed his last start on Friday due to a mild strain in his right hamstring but conveniently recovered just in time to face off with the New York Yankees this afternoon. While that’s great news for the Phillies who are hoping to trade him before the July 31^st trading deadline this has the potential to be a disaster for the Yankees who could have, and should have frankly, swept away the Phillies rather than losing this series.

The Yankees head west, young man, after the game this afternoon to take on the first place Houston Astros and start a road trip. New York tends to lay down against the teams they are supposed to beat and then tend to bring their “A” games against the tougher teams in the league so this four game series with Houston could be fun for Yankees fans. New York has to get past the Phillies and Cole Hamels today though before they start picking out a new pair of cowboy boots to wear while walking around downtown Houston so let’s hope the team comes into this game with that mindset to beat a good pitcher. Go Yankees!