Chicago White Sox: What the New York Yankees bring to Iowa

The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox are all set to butt heads in the first-ever Field of Dreams Game in Dyersville, Iowa. This will be the first of three huge games between two heavyweight contenders in the American League.

The Yankees looked dead in the water but have been rejuvenated since the trade deadline. They acquired a left-handed power-hitting tandem in Joey Gallo from the Texas Rangers and Anthony Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs. They also added left-handed starter Andrew Heaney from the Angels as well as a pair of southpaws in Joely Rodrígez from the Rangers and Clay Holmes from the Pirates.

Since the trade deadline, they are playing some of the best baseball in the MLB. The new-look Yankees have gone 10-3 since the deadline and their pitching staff has the lowest ERA in baseball over the course of that stretch. The Yankees now find themselves only 1.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. Their victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday marked the ninth series win in the last ten opportunities for the Yankees.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, they have been plagued with a COVID-19 outbreak. Anthony Rizzo, Gary Sanchez, Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, and Clay Holmes have all tested positive in the most recent outbreak.

The New York Yankees are a formidable foe for the Chicago White Sox this weekend.

Andrew Heaney is the probable starter for the New York Yankees. The left-hander is 7-8 with a 5.45 ERA this season. He will take on American League Cy Young frontrunner, Lance Lynn. On Saturday Dylan Cease will go for the White Sox while Lucas Giolito is scheduled to pitch Sunday. The Yankees have yet to release their starting pitchers for the other two games.

Aaron Judge is the biggest threat in the lineup. He leads the Yankees in batting average (.279), home runs (23), RBIs (54), runs scored (57), OBP (.365), slugging percentage (.503), and OPS (.868).

DJ LeMahieu is another player to watch. He has been battling with Tim Anderson for the batting title the past two seasons. In 2019 he finished second behind Anderson and in 2020 he edged him out. This season he leads the Bronx Bombers in hits with 117.

Out of the bullpen, Jonathan Loaisiga has proven to be manager Aaron Boone’s most reliable arm. In 46 games, he owns a 2.56 ERA with 54 strikeouts, 15 holds, and four saves.

The Yankees have the edge in the all-time series between the two teams owning a 1,074-826 advantage. The Yankees also own the all-time advantage when playing the White Sox on the road, owning a 499-452 edge. The Field of Dreams game will count as a home game for the White Sox.

The records at Guaranteed Rate Field are a little closer with the Yankees owning a 63-57 advantage The two teams met once already this season in New York with the Yankees sweeping the three-game set.