Yankees' Happ to start ALDS opener against Red Sox

Arthur Weinstein

Yankees' Happ to start ALDS opener against Red Sox image

J.A. Happ will get the start for the New York Yankees in their American League Division opener against rivals the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced the selection on Thursday, with Masahiro Tanaka to start game two of the MLB playoff clash.

The Red Sox announced last week that Chris Sale will take the mound in the opener before David Price starts the second game.

Happ has been by far the Yankees' most dominant starter since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline.

In 11 starts with New York, Happ is 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.

The 35-year-old veteran has plenty of postseason experience, too, with a 3.72 ERA in 10 games for the Philadelphia Phillies and Blue Jays.

Happ had a 1-1 record with a 1.99 ERA in four starts against the Red Sox this season.

"I expect to go out and perform, and I'm happy to have the ball, for sure," Happ told reporters in Boston Thursday. "These games can be intense … and I certainly expect a lot more of that."

 

Arthur Weinstein