Spring Training Game 12: Yankees at Astros

The Houston Astros sold out today's game against the Yankees at Osceola County Stadium. Derek Jeter will not be making that trip as they all hoped.

After last night's thrilling win against the Detroit Tigers that ended on a walk-off balk, and included an very impressive debut by Michael Pineda, the Yankees are up in Kissimmee today for their first game Grapefruit league game against the Astros this year, they same club they'll face on Opening Day.

Ivan Nova gets the call for the Yankees in this one, and he's looking to build off of his last start in which he looked really good, striking out four in three scoreless, hitless innings.

Nova is penciled in to be the Yankees' fourth start this season behind CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, and Masahiro Tanaka. So far this spring, all four of the the rotation locks have pitched well, and no one has gotten hurt (knock on wood).

For the Astros, this will be a split squad game, so most of their talented players might be on the road, with the other half home to face the Bombers.

Today's lineup vs Houston:

Today's lineup vs HOU: Gardner 8, Nuñez 4, Teixeira 3, Johnson DH, Cervelli 2, Anna 6, Sizemore 5, Almonte 7, Williams 9, Nova 1.
— Gavin Ewbank (@GavinEwbank) March 8, 2014

After playing shortstop for two straight days, Jeter gets the day off. Mark Teixeira is back in the lineup for the second time this spring after getting yesterday off. Scott Sizemore, who is trying to make the team as a utility infielder, is starting at third base for the first time. And Eduardo Nunez is starting at second base today.

Nova is scheduled to go at least three innings, and then Manny Banuelos will come in right after him, making his first appearance of the spring. Banuelos is one of the Yankees' top pitching prospects, and there has been talk of him possibly making the team out of spring training as he's coming off of Tommy John Surgery.

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Gavin Ewbank is the Lead Writer of Yanks Beat Blog

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