Yanks schedule exhibition games vs Mets, Phillies July 18-20

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Yankees have scheduled preseason exhibitions against the crosstown Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.

The Yankees and Mets will play at Citi Field on Friday, July 18 and then at Yankee Stadium the following night. The Phillies will come to the Bronx and play the Bombers on July 20. All three games announced Tuesday will air locally on the YES Network.

The Yankees will open a pandemic-shortened 60-game regular season against the World Series champion Nationals in Washington on July 23 – the first game of the season for any team. The Dodgers and Giants will play later that night, and the rest of the league will open the next day.

New York manager Aaron Boone has been quick to get his pitchers and hitters into game situations during their condensed preseason camp. The club held a six-inning intrasquad game Monday night on the third day of official practices at empty Yankee Stadium.

The team had another intrasquad set for Tuesday night, with new ace Gerrit Cole set to pitch in pinstripes for the first time at Yankee Stadium after signing a $324 million, nine-year deal in the offseason.

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