• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Wang makes season debut for Yankees

Apr 24, 2007 - 1:30 PM NY Yankees (8-10) at Tampa Bay (8-11) 7:10 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez continues his home run assault. But the New York Yankees are hoping the return of Chien-Ming Wang will rescue a crumbling pitching staff.

Wang will make his season debut on Tuesday when Rodriguez and the struggling Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the finale of a two-game series.

On Monday, it was another eye-popping performance by Rodriguez, who blasted two more homers and drove in three runs - going 4-for-5 - to increase his league-leading power numbers to 14 homers and 34 RBI.

Rodriguez tied St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols for the most homers in April. Pujols set the major league record last year.

B.J. Upton hit a solo homer and a bases-clearing double as the Devil Rays outslugged the Yankees, 10-8, on Monday.

But New York's rotation has been ravaged by injuries, including those to starters Mike Mussina (left hamstring) and Carl Pavano (right forearm). But Wang (NR) now will return after missing nearly a month after injuring his hamstring during spring training.

The 27-year-old righthander was 19-6 with a 3.63 ERA in 34 games - 33 starts - in 2006.

He will be opposed by Scott Kazmir (1-1, 5.25 ERA), who is 1-3 with a 4.18 ERA in six games - five starts - in his career vs. the Yankees. The 23-year-old lefthander yielded three runs and six hits in four innings in a 6-4 loss to Baltimore last Wednesday.