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Yankees go for sweep of Royals on Thursday

Jul 26, 2007 - 1:59 PM NY Yankees (54-46) at Kansas City (43-57), 8:10 pm EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - The New York Yankees have been on an incredible roll of late. They will try to keep the pace Thursday when they go for a four-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

The Yankees have won six games in a row, outscoring their opponents 70-19 over that stretch. With the Boston Red Sox (61-40) loss on Wednesday night, New York is now within 6 1/2 games of first place in the American League East, the closest it has been since pulling within six games on May 9.

Kei Igawa (2-2, 6.67 ERA) will take the mound for the Yankees, likely fighting for his job. The Japanese lefthander has yet to live up to the combined $46 million the Yankees paid in posting fee and contract to acquire him in the offseason.

With Phil Hughes and Jeff Karstens making their way back after injuries, Igawa may have run out of chances to prove he belongs. The 28-year-old was optioned to the minors after a start on May 4 with the intention of rebuilding his delivery, but has managed just an 0-1 mark with a 5.54 ERA since his return on June 22, and is allowing opposing hitters a staggering .932 OPS.

The Royals will pin their hopes on the arm of Jorge De La Rosa (7-10, 5.61). The 26-year-old lefthander has been an enigma this season, capable of dominating one start and then getting lit up in his next.

De La Rosa followed a string of six straight losses with three victories, only to suffer a loss at Cleveland on July 15 and then surrender seven runs in 4 1/3 innings of a no decision at Detroit last Saturday.