New York Yankees Vs. Tampa Bay Rays: Vazquez Faces Garza

New York Yankees Javier Vazquez will face Tampa Bay Rays Matt Garza on Saturday night at the Trop.

Let's take a look at this match-up:

Tampa Bay Rays: Matt Garza (11-5)

Fresh off throwing the franchiser's first no-hitter in its 13-year history, SP Matt Garza's overall outlook doesn't change much. Garza is still trying to get back to his 2008 form.

Garza likes pitching at home, even if home is Tropicana Field. At the Trop Garza has a .230  OBA against batters with runners in scoring position.

This season Garza has a 4.06 ERA in 128 innings. He has allowed 118 hits, 58 earned runs, giving up 18 homeruns and 41 walks. Four of the homeruns were given up on July 20 against the worst team in baseball, the Baltimore Orioles. Garza has also thrown two complete games and a no-hitter.

Garza relies a lot on his fastball, as he threw it 99 out 120 pitches during his historic no-hitter. Well, why stop what seems to be working as in his last three starts Garza 2-0, going 21 innings, with a 2.95 ERA with 13 strikeouts and only walking two batters.

Garza might not find success against a hot Yankees line-up, who tend to hit fastballs out of the park. Garza needs to throw a variety of pitches to keep the Bombers on their toes, or it will be ugly.

New York Yankees: Javier Vazquez (9-7)

Javier Vazquez has turned his season around after a horrible April. Finally, Vazquez is that durable pitcher the Yankees wanted in the rotation.

Vazquez's 4.54 ERA for the season is not reflective of how he is currently pitching. He has pitched 107 innings, giving up 92 hits, 54 earned runs, 118 homers and 41 walks. Vazquez and Garza are well matched looking at stats only.

For the month of July Vazquez has been solid, posting a 2.77 ERA.

Earlier this year Vazquez got killed by the Rays bats, but this is a different Vazquez and a win would cement him into the hearts of Yankees fans for good.

Prediction:

Garza has posted a 3.96 ERA for July and that includes his no-hitter. Vazquez pitches well in domes and I think this is Vazquez's night.

SCORE:

Yankees beat Rays 5-3

Vazquez gets the win.

Garza takes the loss.

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