INSIDE THE MATCHUPS
YANKEES: In a late switcheroo, Phelps was named yesterday to start in place of the struggling Ivan Nova. The rookie was bumped from the rotation after three mediocre starts to open September (5.65 ERA in 141/3 combined innings), the final one against the Red Sox, but came through in his last start on Sept. 19, holding the Blue Jays to one run and striking out six over 62/3 innings at the Stadium.
RED SOX: Accused clubhouse snacker Lester has substituted innings eating for fried-chicken eating in a terrible campaign. He’s cracked the 200-inning threshold with an ERA nearly a run and a half higher than his previous full-season worst (3.47) and lowest strikeout rate (7.4 per nine innings) since 2008. His road splits — 6-4, 3.38 ERA — are about the only positive.
STAT SO?
YANKEES: The Bombers have a league-worst 13 triples — or two fewer than the Giants’ Angel Pagan.
RED SOX: Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was the only player in Boston’s Game 160 lineup last year and last night.
TONIGHT — 7:05
RHP David Phelps (4-4, 3.34) vs.
LHP Jon Lester
(9-14, 4.94)
TOMORROW — 7:05
RHP Hiroki Kuroda (15-11, 3.34) vs.
RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-6, 7.68)
Both games on YES, WCBS (880 AM)