New York @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 6, 2013 ) NY Yankees 4, Detroit 8

The good news for New York Yankees fans is that one of the best seasons in team history (1998) also began 1-4 before the club ripped off 114 wins in the regular season. The 2013 edition of the Yankees will be trying to avoid a sweep when they close out a three-game set at the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. This year’s squad bears little resemblance to that historic 1998 team, although Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera are still around.

Derek Jeter also remains from 1998, but he is on the disabled list along with several other highly-compensated teammates. Those that are still healthy will get the opportunity to face Tigers ace Justin Verlander on Sunday. The former MVP looked sharp in his opening day turn and will be going up against Yankee ace CC Sabathia. The Tigers offense struggled in the opening series but has come alive for 16 runs in the first two games against New York, led by Prince Fielder’s seven RBIs. Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-4 in Saturday’s win and Detroit has had little trouble with the Yankees’ middle relief.

TV: 1:08 p.m. ET, YES (New York), Fox Sports Detroit, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (0-1, 7.20 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (1-0, 0.00)

Sabathia had surgery on his left elbow following last October’s American League Championship Series loss to Detroit and did not look like his usual dominant self in his opening start against Boston on Monday. The burly left-hander issued four walks and was charged with four runs and eight hits in five innings. Sabathia was crushed in his ALCS turn against the Tigers, allowing six runs - five earned - and 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings at Comerica Park. Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta homered off Sabathia in that contest.

Verlander did not go as deep into the game as he normally does but still struck out seven in five scoreless innings to earn a win at Minnesota in the opener. The 30-year-old right-hander had little trouble with New York in last year’s playoffs, tossing 8 1/3 three-hit innings to pick up a win in Game 3. Verlander faced the Yankees three times in the 2012 regular season and struggled in the first two before striking out 14 over eight innings in a home win on Aug. 6.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano is 2-for-18 through the first five games with no RBIs.

2. Detroit’s top three hitters combined for 10 hits on Saturday and have 14 in the series.

3. New York is down to its third-string SS in Jayson Nix, who could start again on Sunday as Eduardo Nunez continues to recover from being hit by a pitch on Friday.

PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Yankees 1