Yankees Notes: A-Rod, Kearns, Golson, Vazquez, and the Lineup

The Yankees have Phil Hughes on the mound this afternoon as they go for the sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays, and their ninth consecutive victory overall.

Here are some notes:

• Alex Rodriguez will be activated this afternoon. He will play third and hit cleanup.
• Marcus Thames got the start in right field yesterday when Nick Swisher was scratched, and because Austin Kearns couldn’t play due to a minor thumb injury. He is day-to-day.
• Swisher and Kearns might be day-to-day, but they aren’t playing this afternoon. On top of that Girardi must be uncomfortable with Thames in right because Greg Golson is getting the start in right field.
• Robinson Cano also has the day off, Ramiro Pena is starting in his place.
• Manager Joe Girardi expects to keep Javier Vazquez in the rotation despite Saturday’s poor start.
• Here is the lineup:
  • Gardner LF
    Jeter SS
    Teixeira 1B
    Rodriguez 3B
    Thames DH
    Posada C
    Granderson CF
    Golson RF
    Pena 2B

Golson won’t help the Yankees much offensively, but he gives the Yankees one heck of a strong defensive outfield with Brett Gardner in left and Curtis Granderson in center. This is right up there as one of the best defensive outfields Yankee fans have ever seen.

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