Professional sports handicapper Jeff Grant previews the series finale between the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers

New York is set to play the final game of its seven-game road trip that began with a four-game series in Detroit (1-3) and bounce back from a disappointing 7-5 loss on Saturday night. The Yankees need a win to avoid losing back-to-back series for the first time this season. "I think you go through these phases sometimes during the season, where everything's not really clicking the way that you want," outfielder Nick Swisher stated. "If having a bad game is going out there and putting five runs up on a team like the Texas Rangers, I'll take that." At 18-13 (.581), New York still owns the second-best winning percentage in the AL behind Cleveland (.688). The club is 8-3 in day games this season and 82-50 under the sun the past three years.

Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia is 2-2 with a 2.68 ERA in seven starts this season and will be making his 16th career appearance against the Rangers. The left-hander has compiled an 8-3 record and 4.39 ERA versus Texas, allowing 97 hits in 92.1 innings of work. New York's bullpen has posted a 5.40 ERA in games in which Sabathia has started, twice blowing leads. He has started 49 Yankees wins since arriving in 2009, marking the most such starts among all Major League pitchers over that span.

Texas aims for its first series win since sweeping Kansas City from April 22-24, but has won consecutive games just one time since starting the season with a 9-1 record. "Our record isn't what we want right now, but I'm proud of the way our team's battling," said Michael Young. "We're taking a good team approach offensively right now. If we keep doing that we're going to be fine." He has a good chance of leading the charge this afternoon, coming in batting .362 in 47 career at-bats versus Sabathia. The club is 12-6 in Arlington this season, which marks the third-best record through 18 home games in franchise history. Texas is 7-7 in day games this year and 52-55 over the past three seasons.

Rangers starting pitcher Dave Bush will make his second spot outing this season in replacing Alexi Ogando, who is suffering from a blister on his right index finger. Bush has posted a 1.46 ERA in four appearances this year and tossed three scoreless innings in a start against Detroit on April 13. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.56 ERA against the Yankees, but hasn't faced them since the 2005 campaign.

Bettors will likely back the Yankees due to their 15-1 record in Sabathia's last 16 starts versus the American League West, while the Rangers are 2-6 against American League East foes.
 

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