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Castro returns to Wrigley Field with Yankees (May 05, 2017)
CHICAGO -- The New York Yankees bring along an old friend when they visit Wrigley Field this weekend for the first time since 2014.
Starlin Castro, the former Chicago Cubs shortstop and current Yankees second baseman, is enjoying a renaissance in the Bronx with a .362 average that's second in the American League.
The 27-year-old infielder was once a core Cubs star but became expendable as the rebuilding team moved the rising Addison Russell into Castro's shortstop spot. In 891 regular-season games with the Cubs, he batted .281 with 62 home runs and 363 RBIs.
Castro was then traded to the Yankees for right-hander Adam Warren and a player to be named later in December 2015.
But he was delighted when his former teammates won the 2016 World Series and looks forward to returning to Chicago in the wake of what turned into a win-win outcome for both the Yankees and the Cubs.
"I'm pretty happy to go back and play there. I can't wait to see how they react," Castro said. "(It) didn't happen when I'm there, but I feel happy for those guys. I just wanted the Cubbies (to win) because I have a lot of good relationships with the teammates I had over there."
Castro also has five home runs, 16 RBIs, a .402 on-base percentage and .543 slugging percentage as the Yankees are 17-9 heading into their third regular-season trip to Wrigley.
"It's going to be fun going back to Wrigley," Castro said. "I feel good that I've hit well; but, no matter how I hit, (I'll) just try to do my job and compete against my ex-teammates."
Russell, Castro's successor at shortstop, is batting .250, with a .389 slugging percentage, two homers and 15 RBIs. He doubled in the Cubs' first run on Thursday.
"It'll be exciting," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo told reporters. "He was here for a long time and did a lot of good things here. Obviously, he got traded to a great team, the Yankees, but part of him was part of that (Cubs) team last year that won a World Series. I'm sure he felt that."
The Yankees and Cubs are each perched atop their respective divisions heading into the series.
Besides Castro's return, the Yankees bring in rookie right fielder Aaron Judge, who leads the majors with 13 home runs. He homered six times during New York's 4-2 homestand against the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.
The Yankees are also expected to activate Gary Sanchez from the disabled list after he missed nearly a month with a biceps injury.
Chicago won three of four from the Philadelphia Phillies after dropping two of three in Boston last weekend. Albert Almora Jr. scored the winning run in the 13th on an error after opening the inning with a double.
"There's no doubt throughout the clubhouse that we wanted to come out with a win and we did," Russell said. "We could look back at the game and say, 'We messed up here, we messed up there.' But, overall, the team played fantastic."
The Yankees and Cubs have split eight meetings at Wrigley. Chicago took two of three in 2003, the Yankees took two of three in 2011 and the teams split two meetings May 21-22, 2014, when Castro was 1-for-10.
The weekend series, the seventh between the teams since interleague play began in 1997, also marks a reunion with current Yankees and former Cubs relievers Aroldis Chapman and Warren. Both will receive their 2016 World Series rings.
Michael Pineda (3-1, 3.14 ERA) will start for the Yankees and oppose right-hander Kyle Hendricks (2-1, 4.18).
Pineda is 3-1 with a 2.16 ERA in his last four starts. In the Yankees' 12-4 victory over the Orioles last week, he worked 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits while striking out eight and walking one.
Pineda's lone start against the Cubs occurred April 16, 2014, in New York. In a 2-0 win, he allowed four hits in six innings.
Hendricks makes his sixth start of the season, second straight against an AL East foe and first all-time against the Yankees. In his last start in Boston he allowed a season-low three hits over six innings and had a no-decision in Chicago's 6-2 loss.
He's 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA all-time in 10 starts against American League teams.
