It’s been two and a half years since Chien-Ming Wang threw a pitch for the Yankees, but doesn’t it feel like much longer than that? His final appearance in pinstripes came on Independence Day 2009, when he allowed four runs in 5.1 IP against the Blue Jays. Apparently that was good enough to beat Roy Halladay.
Wang needed surgery to repair the capsule in his throwing shoulder soon thereafter, an injury that required nearly two full years of rehab. He made it back for 11 reasonably effective starts with the Nationals in 2011, who signed the sinkerballer after the Yankees non-tendered him following that 2009 season. CMW is healthy now and competing for a spot in Washington’s surprisingly crowded rotation, and today he gets the ball against the team that originally signed him out of Taiwan. Oh, and Michael Pineda is starting for the Yankees today. He’s kind of a big deal. Here’s the lineup…
LF Brett Gardner
C Russell Martin
DH Andruw Jones
RF Chris Dickerson
3B Bill Hall
CF Dewayne Wise
2B Jayson Nix
1B Jorge Vazquez
SS Ramiro Pena
RHP Michael Pineda
Available Pitchers: LHP Cesar Cabral, LHP Juan Cedeno, RHP Brett Marshall, LHP Mike O’Connor, LHP Clay Rapada, RHP Graham Stoneburner, and RHP Adam Warren are all on the trip and available if needed.
Available Position Players: C J.R. Murphy, 1B Jose Gil, 2B David Adams, SS Doug Bernier, 3B Brandon Laird, LF Justin Maxwell, CF Melky Mesa, RF Zoilo Almonte, and DH Gary Sanchez will replace the starters. C Kyle Higashioka, IF Corban Joseph, OF Colin Curtis, and OF Cole Garner also made the trip and are available if needed.
Today’s game is the first of two straight against the Nationals, and both will be televised. Bryce Harper is scheduled to play both games, but Stephen Strasburg just pitched yesterday so we won’t get to see him. For shame. Today’s game begins at 1:05pm ET and can be seen on MLB Network. The blackout has been lifted in the Tri-State Area. We’re going to chat during the first couple of innings, so join in the fun after the jump…
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