What Channel and What Time is the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins Game on in New York City?

What time and what channel is the New York Yankees Game 1 American League Division playoff game against the Minnesota Twins on in New York City?

As the Major League Baseball playoffs begin on Wednesday, the American League playoffs start with no heavy favorite. While in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies are the clear and heavy favorite to advance to the World Series, all four American League teams, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Texas Rangers, the Minnesota Twins and the Yankees, have serious flaws. Unlike last year, when the Yankees were the heavy favorite to roll through the playoffs, there is no clear favorite this year. The Tampa Bay Rays are considered slight favorites, but really it is a wide open playoff scenario.

The key for the Yankees this year is veteran left handed pitcher Andy Pettitte. As a fifteen year veteran and postseason stalwart, Pettitte will be counted on to deliver and stabilize what is an uncharacteristically thin starting rotation for the Bronx Bombers.

The Yankees' ace, CC Sabathia, has pitched brilliantly all year and figures to give them at least a good outing in Game 1. But, of course, Sabathia will face the Twins' ace Francisco Liriano, the type of left hander that gives the Yankees fits. If the Yankees lose Game 1, Game 2 will be vital. Pettitte would also figure to pitch Game 5 on regular rest.

Pettitte pitched very well for the Yankees when healthy this year; he finished with a 3.28 earned run average and an 11-3 record. But Pettitte missed about two months with a groin injury and pitched three times since, with very mixed results. But given his track record and knowledge of how to pitch, the Yankees will absolutely need him if they hope to go far in the playoffs. Phil Hughes, who is only in his second full year in the Major Leagues, pitched very well early on, but struggled during the second half, finishing with an 18 and 8 record and a 4.19 earned run average.

AJ Burnett, who was supposed to be the Yankees number two starter this year, is being skipped in this best of five series, as he had the third worst ERA of any Yankee starter making more than 25 starts in history.

On paper, the Yankees are better than the Twins and if history is any guide, the Yankees should win as the Twins have never been able to beat the Yankees in the playoffs, losing in 2009, 2004 and 2003 to the Bombers in the Division Series.

This series should be well played and in a five game series, anything can happen. But the Yankees are the favorites and in New York City this week, millions will be gathering at home and in sports bars to watch. Given the number of games and switching networks, many may wonder what channel the Yankees playoff game is on. The answer is that Game 1, like all Division Series games, will be carried on the cable network TBS. First pitch is scheduled for 8:37 PM, Eastern Daylight Time.

Source:

Jon Krawczynski, "Twins look to solve Yankees in playoffs", yahoo.com
TBS Website