LEADING OFF: Gardner powering up, O’s need Bundy’s innings

The defending champions enter this series coming off three straight wins against Philadelphia.

Sanchez was behind the plate and batting third against the Chicago Cubs on Friday after being sidelined since April 8 because of a strained right biceps.

NY is 16-5 in its last 21 games. Aaron Judge has been baseball’s top slugger, and he could have a big weekend at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. He’s been with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on a rehab assignment since Tuesday and appears ready to join the Yankees in Chicago for a rare series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Warren spent time with the Cubs past year before being traded back to the Yankees in July for Chapman, who rejoined the Yankees in the winter as a free agent. On the other hand, the Yankees are second in runs, home runs, fourth in RBIs and second in average.

Castro was a Cub from 2010 through the 2015 season, Maddon’s first as manager of the Cubs.

Strasburg (3-1) allowed five hits, struck out five and walked four, leaving after 119 pitches and failing to go seven innings for the first time this season. That’s in the rearview mirror for all parties, though, and Maddon has said on numerous occasions that the Cubs wouldn’t have won their championship without Chapman’s efforts in the closer’s role.

“It felt like he hit a home run every time and took an RBI away from me”, Sanchez said. Then like they had most of the game, the Cubs looked like they would wriggle out of it. He beat it out, and they rallied. He never made an excuse, man. “I think you would do that 11 out of 10 times“.

It read: “That recycling bin must have got you locked in”. “It will be an electric atmosphere, and I’m looking forward to it”. He was struck in the calf by a line drive in Texas last August and hit in the arm during an exhibition game this spring. He ranks fifth in lowest contact rate among pitchers who have thrown at least 20.0 innings.

Barney and Castro were teammates with the Cubs for several seasons, as both made their Cubs debuts in 2010.

Gabriel Ynoa pitched six scoreless innings in relief of Wade Miley and Baltimore beat Chicago.

“He’s killing it so far”, Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery said. “But having that guy at the end of the game permits you to juggle a little bit prior to that”.

“It’s pretty high up there, ” Gardner said of where Friday’s homer off Hector Rondon ranked.

Lennon began covering baseball for Newsday as the Yankees’ beat writer in 1995, the season the Bombers snapped a 14-year playoff drought by becoming the American League’s first wild-card team. They had Thursday off.

Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant homered for the Cubs.

Mauer’s first career walk-off home run landed in the bullpen in left-center field and backed a strong start from Phil Hughes in the Twins’ fifth win in six games.

The scene, which occurred during the Blue Jays-Yankees game at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, featured the duo embracing at third base, and the image quickly lit the social media world on fire.