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 another victory away from home when they meet the Cleveland Indians in the second 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: 3:35 p.m. ET, YES (New York), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH Vidal Nuno (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Indians RH Trevor Bauer (1-1, 2.70)
With New York reluctant to pitch any of its regular starters on short rest, the Yankees are expected to call up Nuno from the minors to make his first career major-league start. The 25-year-old left-hander made his major-league debut in relief during a 9-1 loss to Houston on April 29, allowing four hits and striking out two over three scoreless frames. Nuno has been dominant in Triple-A this season, going 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in four starts with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Bauer will be called up from the minors for his third spot start of the season. The right-hander, who collected his first win of the season on May 1 against Philadelphia, has walked a staggering number of batters (13) over his first two starts with the Indians. However, he has minimized the damage by allowing a total of three hits over 10 innings. Bauer, who has never faced the Yankees, is 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA over 24 2/3 innings in four outings this year with Triple-A Columbus.
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: Yankees 6, Indians 4