New York @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 11, 2013 ) NY Yankees 0, Cleveland 0
The New York Yankees have become road warriors in May and will eye their sixth consecutive victory away from home when they meet the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday. The Yankees took two of three from the Colorado Rockies and swept the Kansas City Royals over the weekend to claim their season-high fifth straight win, thanks in large part to a 3.86 ERA from their starters and no runs allowed by the bullpen during the winning streak.
Cleveland enters this doubleheader – which is being played to make up for two postponements on April 10-11 – a different team than the one that lost its first two games to New York by a combined score of 25-7. The Indians are 12-2 since their 8-13 start and moved into a tie for first place in the American League Central with Sunday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Detroit Tigers. Strong pitching has also served Cleveland recently – opponents have scored more than three runs only four times during its surge.
TV: 12:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH David Phelps (1-1, 5.02 ERA) vs. Indians RH Justin Masterson (5-2, 3.67)
Phelps will make his third consecutive start in place of the injured Ivan Nova. He allowed two runs and three hits over a season-high six frames, but settled for a second straight no-decision in Wednesday’s 3-2 win at Colorado. The 26-year-old right-hander, who will make his 42nd major-league appearance, is 2-2 with a 3.91 ERA in 14 career starts with the Yankees. Phelps will face Cleveland for the first time in his career, carrying a 2.96 ERA in eight all-time appearances in May.
Masterson reversed a recent slide in Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over Oakland to post his first win in three starts. The sinkerballer suffered through a rough fourth inning - giving up the three runs and all four hits he allowed during the frame - but yielded only two walks and struck out seven over his other six innings. Masterson is 2-2 with a 5.91 ERA over his previous five starts after beginning the season 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA. In 10 appearances (six starts) against the Yankees, he is 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland has won five straight one-run contests and is 9-3 overall in such games this season.
2. New York’s road winning streak is its longest since winning seven straight from June 3-17, 2012.
3. The Indians have won eight of their last nine at home.
PREDICTION: Indians 5, Yankees 3