Yankees-Indians Series Preview: Schedule Eases Up for New York
May 28, 2010 · Jordan Schwartz · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The Yankees righted the ship for the time being by taking two of three in Minnesota and now return home to open a stretch of 13 of 16 games against teams with losing records.
This should come as a relief to New York, which just completed 20 straight contests versus the Red Sox, Tigers, Twins, Rays and Mets, all clubs with a shot at making the postseason.
The Bombers (28-19) went a disappointing 9-11 over that span, and will look to creep closer to first-place Tampa Bay by winning at least three of four this Memorial Day weekend against the last-place Indians (17-28).
The Yanks may even have a shot at a sweep as they send their four best pitchers to the mound in this series. That leaves out Javier Vazquez, who is 3-5 with a 6.86 ERA.
By the way, at this point last season, Joba Chamberlain was 2-1 with a 3.97 ERA.
Let’s take a look at the pitching match ups in this wrap-around set.
Friday, May 28—Phil Hughes (5-1, 2.72) vs. Fausto Carmona (4-2, 3.45)
Hughes suffered his first loss of the season in a four-run, 5 2/3-inning effort at Citi Field on Saturday. He has now allowed nine runs in 10.2 frames over his last two starts following a 5-0, 1.39 start to the year. Nevertheless, the right-hander remains sixth in the league in wins, ERA and WHIP (1.09).
Hughes is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two career starts against Cleveland. Jhonny Peralta is 2-for-5 (.400) with a double and two RBIs off him, while Trevor Crowe has a double in two at-bats.
Mark Grudzielanek is 1-for-5 (.200) with an RBI and a walk, and Luis Valbuena and Shin-Soo Choo are a combined 0-for-3.
On the other hand, Carmona yielded five runs—three earned—over six innings in a home loss to the Reds on Saturday, but he has posted a stellar 3-0 record with a 2.16 ERA in four road starts so far in 2010.
The righty was 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA at the old Yankee Stadium and despite surrendering four runs in six innings, earned the win during one start at the new ballpark last year. He is 1-2 with a 5.17 ERA overall in eight career games—five starts—against New York.
Robinson Cano is 5-for-15 (.333), while Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira are both 5-for-14 (.357) versus Carmona. Don’t expect Marcus Thames to play, though. He’s 0-for-14 with four strikeouts.
Saturday, May 29—CC Sabathia (4-3, 3.86) vs. David Huff (2-6, 5.25)
Sabathia really labored in his last start against the Mets, giving up six runs—five earned—on 10 hits and two walks over five innings. He hasn’t won since May 3, but will welcome another chance to pitch at home, where he’s 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA this season.
The big lefty has only made two starts against his former team, going 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA. Mike Redmond is 13-for-26 (.500) off him, but Austin Kearns is 2-for-15 (.133).
Huff snapped a five-start losing streak by beating the Reds (4-3) on Sunday.
However, the league-leader in losses gave up two more homers, bringing his season total up to 10 in 48 innings—not a good ratio when your next start is at Yankee Stadium.
The second-year left-hander has never faced the Bombers, so the only man on the current roster to face him is Chad Moeller (1-for-3, K).
Sunday, May 30—A.J. Burnett (5-2, 3.55) vs. Justin Masterson (0-5, 6.13)
Burnett pitched better in his last start against the Twins on Tuesday, tossing five scoreless innings and picking up the win when Jeter homered the following day in the continuation of the suspended game.
Burnett has struggled in his six career starts versus the Indians, going 1-4 with a 6.69 ERA, but most of the guys who have done the damage are gone.
Travis Hafner (5-for-14, .357, 5 RBI) remains, but Grudzielanek (3-for-16, .188) is gone.
If Burnett continues his hard times against Cleveland, this could be a high-scoring game because Masterson only has one quality start out of nine this season.
The former Red Sox right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA in six career games—two starts— against the Yanks, and was 0-2 with the same ERA at the old Stadium.
Facing Masterson, Jeter is 3-for-8 (.375), Cano is 4-for-7, (.571) and Alex Rodriguez is 2-for-5 (.400). However, Brett Gardner, Teixeira, Thames and Juan Miranda are a combined 0-for-10 with three strikeouts.
Monday, May 31—Andy Pettitte (6-1, 2.62) vs. Mitch Talbot (6-3, 3.73)
After his first loss of the season, Pettitte, who ranks fifth in the American League in ERA, bounced back to hold the Twins to two runs over eight frames in a 3-2 victory.
The Yankees are now 8-1 in his starts.
The veteran has not had as much success versus the Tribe, however, going 7-8 with a 4.41 ERA in 19 starts.
The current roster hits .338 off the southpaw. Grudzielanek is 8-for-25 (.320), Kearns is 6-for-13 (.462) with five walks, and Peralta is 5-for-13 (.385) with two homers and eight RBIs.
The only guys Pettitte has been able to hold in check are Russell Branyan (0-for-6, 5 K’s) and Crowe (0-for-2).
Talbot is a surprising six-game winner, picking up his last victory in a seven-inning, two-run effort against the White Sox on Tuesday.
The second-year right-hander has never faced the Yankees, and Thames (0-for-2) is the only current Bomber to face him.
Follow me on Twitter at JordanHarrison .
Jordan Schwartz is one of Bleacher Report’s New York Yankees and College Basketball Featured Columnists. His book Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and authorhouse.com.
Jordan can be reached at jordanschwartz2003@yahoo.com
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