Series Preview: Indians vs. Yankees

Perhaps a day off is just what the Tribe needed. A chance to step back, recharge their batteries and get in the right frame of mind can sometimes do wonders to a team that is struggling. When you look at it, the Indians are still in first place, barely. They will head into New York with hopes of righting the ship and get back to their winning ways of April and early May. With that, well, let’s just get to it.

June 10-13, 2011

Yankee Stadium

Scouting Report

Cleveland – The Indians are in a bad way. They have gone just 4-11 since they were last 30-15 on May 23. Their offense has struggled and their defense hasn’t been as solid as it was in the first month or so of the season. They also appear to be suffering from the slumps of Carlos Santana and Shin-S00 Choo. BUT the starting pitching has still been solid for the Indians and has kept them in ballgames. The Tribe now hits the road after a 1-6 homestand that saw them score just nine runs in seven games. They were also shut out twice. Hopefully the Indians can erupt for another 22-run performance in the Bronx as they did in 2004 when they entered Yankee Stadium losing eight straight from 2001 to 2004.

New York – The Yankees are fresh off getting swept at the hands of rival Boston but they have owned Cleveland winning 10 of 13 against the Tribe while hitting .304 and averaging 6.8 runs. With the most recent loss the Yankees dropped to two games back of the Sox in the East. They have also won 13 out of their last 23 ballgames. In Wednesday’s game against the Red Sox Derek Jeter saw his streak of 58 consecutive at-bats without a strikeout come to an end; it was the longest such run of his career. He has just 28 strikeouts through 56 games this year and is on pace for the lowest full-season strikeout total of his career. Also, Nick Swisher has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, hitting .275 (11-for-40) with three doubles, three homers, seven RBIs and 10 walks.

Pitching Match-up(s)

Game 1 – Fausto Carmona vs. Ivan Nova

Fausto Carmona 3-7, 5.33 ERA

Carmona picked up a loss at home against the Rangers on Saturday after allowing four runs (all via two home runs) on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. In six road starts this season, Carmona has gone 1-4 with a 5.89 ERA for the Tribe.

Ivan Nova 4-4, 4.50 ERA

Ivan Nova battled back from a slow start to work into the seventh inning of his loss to the Angels last time out. He allowed three runs — two earned. In two of his previous four starts, Nova had not finished the fourth inning.

Game 2 – Mitch Talbot vs. Bartolo Colon

Mitch Talbot 2-2, 4.18 ERA

Talbot absorbed a hard-luck loss on Sunday, when he gave up two runs (on a pair of solo homers) on eight hits over six innings against Texas. So far this season, the righty has gone 2-0 with an 0.61 ERA in a pair of road outings.

Bartolo Colon 4-3, 3.98 ERA

Colon followed up his shutout in Oakland with a guttier performance in Anaheim on Sunday. He lasted 5 1/3 innings and picked up a win after some nifty relief work from his teammates. Colon struck out four and walked two.

Game 3 – Josh Tomlin vs. To Be Determined

Josh Tomlin 7-3, 3.11 ERA

Tomlin has seen his ERA rise to 3.71 from 2.74 in the span of two starts. On Monday, he took a loss after yielding six runs in six innings against the Twins. Tomlin is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in six road outings this season.

To Be Determined

Game 4 – Carlos Carrasco vs. To Be Determined

Carlos Carrasco 5-3, 4.52 ERA

Carrasco enjoyed a career night on Tuesday, blanking the Twins at home over 8 1/3 innings. The righty scattered three hits, walked one and struck out six in the win. He is 3-0 with a 3.48 ERA in six road starts this year.

Probable Lineups

Cleveland

LF Michael Brantley
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
CF Grady Sizemore
1B Carlos Santana
RF Shin-Soo Choo
DH Matt LaPorta
2B Cord Phelps
3B Jack Hannahan
C Lou Marson

New York

SS Derek Jeter
CF Curtis Granderson
1B Mark Texeira
3B Alex Rodriguez
2B Robinson Cano
C Russell Martin
RF Nick Swisher
DH Jorge Posada
LF Brett Gardner

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