Preview: Yanks open spring schedule against Florida State University

It feels soooo good to be back. The Yankees are finally back to taking the field against players other than themselves. Today, they host Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and his undefeated Florida State University squad at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Vidal Nuno will be on the mound for the Yankees, and says that he is expected to pitch two innings.

Nuno is an underdog candidate to grab the Yankees' fifth starter job. Even after a good showing in the big league's last season, people don't see Nuno as a serious candidate, but he actually has a good chance of getting a spot with a good spring.


The Yankees household names that will be in the lineup, according the manager Joe Girardi, are Brett Gardner, Francisco Cervelli and Kelly Johnson. There was no word on how long they'll play, or what position Johnson will start at, but I'd expect at least one at-bat and a couple of innings in the field, and I would also think that Johnson starts at third base.

Johnson has been spending time at first and third base for the Yankees spring after Girardi appointed him as the backup first baseman behind Mark Teixeira, who is still working his way back from wrist surgery and should miss at least the first week of spring games.

As for Winston, the Yankees were his favorite team growing up, so it wouldn't be a shock to him him get on the mound for an inning or two, especially if FSU is able to get a lead late in the game.

"I imagine he’s going to look pretty big in that uniform," Girardi said. "I'm excited to see him. It'll be fun tomorrow. … Obviously he’s extremely athletic. When you watch him play the game of football, he’s got a great arm. He’s pretty mature for his age, as an athlete and what he had to go through and handle, and I'm excited to see him."

Unfortunately, today's game, which starts promptly at 1:05pm EST, will not be broadcasted anywhere on TV or radio, so the only way you can watch is if you go to the game. But if you can't make it, Yanks Beat Blog will have full game coverage for you.

Feel free to use the comment section as your open thread for today's game for those of you watching on Twitter.

Here is today's lineup:

Today's #Yankees lineup vs FSU: Gardner 8, Cervelli 2, Johnson 5, Canzler 3, Almonte 7, Ryan 6, Garcia 9, Solarte 4, Murphy DH, Nuno 1.
— Gavin Ewbank (@GavinEwbank) February 25, 2014

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Gavin Ewbank is the Lead Writer of Yanks Beat Blog, and you can follow him on Twitter @GavinEwbank.