Can Trevor Bauer shut down the Yankees once again?

Trevor Bauer is set to take the mound for the Cleveland Indians on Monday night against the New York Yankees, given the rain holds off.

After seeing Josh Tomlin in the bullpen Sunday evening, Cleveland Indians fans were left questioning who would start for the Tribe in Game 4.

Shortly after the game, fans were given their answer. Trevor Bauer will be starting Game 4 of the American League Division Series against Luis Severino.

If you look at Bauer’s Thursday night performance, fans should be feeling confident to have Trevor on the mound again. Bauer didn’t allow a hit through 5 1/3 innings, and was one out short of a seven inning game with eight strikeouts.

Pitching on only three days rest does pose a risk. However, with how good the Indians bullpen is, it doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch. Bauer has had the Yankees’ number this season. He was 2-0 against the Bronx Bombers in the regular season, and had an incredible ERA of 1.38 against them.

While another incredible “Bauer Outage” would help the Indians chances, they have to get more hits. Hits for the Tribe have not been easy to come by. The Yankees starters have been remarkable outside of Sonny Gray, and the bullpen kept the Indians in check outside of Game 2.

While Severino struggled in the Wild Card game, he is 1-1 against Cleveland and his ERA is a respectable 2.70, with only four earned runs.

Going into another game without slugger Edwin Encarnacion won’t give fans a confidence boost. While he is listed as day-to-day, I don’t see how he can start tonight (if weather permits). As for the lineup, the Yankees can’t keep them quiet forever. This team is simply too good.

If anyone has nerves before this game they should be calmed. Trevor Bauer has turned his season around since the All-Star break. He has proven he can carry this team through seven innings. As for the bullpen, allowing only one run in Yankee stadium against the Yankees’ powerhouse offense is an impressive feat considering what they did against the Twins.

Next: Indians fall in Game 3

The Indians only needed one run to prolong Game 3 and potentially end this series. If Bauer pitches like he did on Thursday, one run may be all that is needed to win.