The Yankees have had a rough go of it on Father’s Day. Since 1972 when Father’s Day was decreed a national holiday, the Yankees’ record on those days is 18-22, although they have won six of the past nine Father’s Day games.

Today marks the 12th consecutive year that the Yankees will play an inter-league opponent on Father’s Day and the 14th time over-all. They will be playing the Nationals on Father’s Day for the second time. The other was June 18, 2006 at old RFK Stadium. Washington won, 3-2, on a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning by Ryan Zimmerman off Chien-Ming Wang.

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has hit safely in each of the eight Father’s Day games he has played (2003-06, ’08-11) and is batting .281 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 32 at-bats.

The Yankees’ 40-man roster features three players whose father played in the major leagues – second baseman Robinson Cano (Jose), right fielder Nick Swisher (Steve) and disabled catcher Austin Romine (Kevin).