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Cleveland Indians: An in-depth look at the New York Yankees

By Aaron Gershon

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 09: Carlos Santana #41 of the Cleveland Indians and the American League celebrates with Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees and the American League after defeating the National League All-Stars 4-3 in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 09: Carlos Santana #41 of the Cleveland Indians and the American League celebrates with Aroldis Chapman #54 of the New York Yankees and the American League after defeating the National League All-Stars 4-3 in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 27: DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees hits a single during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on September 27, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 27: DJ LeMahieu #26 of the New York Yankees hits a single during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on September 27, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Projected Lineup

2B: DJ LeMahieu (.364/.421/.590) 10 HR, 27 RBI’s

RF: Aaron Judge (.265/.336/.554) 9 HR, 22 RBI’s

CF: Aaron Hicks (.225/.379/.413) 6 HR, 21 RBI’s

DH: Giancarlo Stanton (.250/.343/.500) 4 HR, 11 RBI’s

1B: Luke Voit (.277/.338/.610) 22 HR, 52 RBI’s

SS: Gleyber Torres (.243/.356/.368) 3 HR, 16 RBI’s

3B: Gio Urshela (.298/.368/490) 6 HR, 30 RBI’s

C: Gary Sanchez (.147/.253/.365) 10 HR, 24 RBI’s or Kyle Higashioka (.250/.250/521) 4 HR, 10 RBI’s

LF: Clint Fraizer (.267/.394/.511) 8 HR, 26 RBI’s or Brett Gardner (.223/354/.392) 5 HR, 15 RBI’s

Despite being streaky, the Yankees arguably still have the most potent lineup in the American League.

New York finished first in the American League in runs scored (315), on-base% (342), tied for first in home runs (94) and second in slugging (.447).

The Yankees lineup features the AL and MLB batting champion DJ LeMahieu who hit .364 and baseball’s home run leader Luke Voit (22), making them the first team since the 1959 Braves to have baseball’s batting average and home run leader (Hank Aaron and Eddie Murray).

In total, the Bombers have six former all-stars in their lineup, including former AL Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge, who was on pace for an MVP season before going down with a lower-body injury and missing a month of action. Former NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton also got off to a hot start but was forced to miss over a month, slowing down his potential big-season.

Two former Indians will make their return to Progressive Field looking to burn their former team as third basemen Gio Urshela put together his second straight stellar season for the Bombers and former Cleveland first round draft pick Clint Frazier will look for revenge on the Tribe who traded him before ever reaching the majors.

If the Yankees offense is clicking, the Indians pitching staff will have their work cut out for them as there isn’t a single easy out when the Bombers are rolling.

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