New York @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2011 ) Cleveland 1, NY Yankees 0
THE STORY: First-place teams clash in Cleveland on Monday when the New York Yankees open a three-game series against the Indians. New York saw its seven-game win streak snapped Sunday but still leads Boston by 1 1/2 games in the AL East. The Indians, 24-14 at home, hold a half-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central after taking two of three from the Cincinnati Reds. The Yankees have outscored their opponents by 121 runs, the biggest margin in baseball.
TV: 6:35 p.m., STO, YES
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Josh Tomlin (9-4, 3.86 ERA) vs. Yankees RH A.J. Burnett (8-6, 4.05 ERA).
The 26-year-old Tomlin has given up 14 homers in 16 starts but has compensated by walking just 12 batters. He’s produced three straight quality starts. Batters are hitting .228 against Burnett, who held the Brewers to two runs over seven innings in his last start. Lifetime, he’s 3-5 with a 4.47 ERA against Cleveland.
ABOUT THE INDIANS (44-38): The Indians finished interleague play 11-7 despite the fact DH Travis Hafner, who leads the team with a .341 average, could only pinch-hit. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a walk. Asdrubal Cabrera is the first Indians shortstop to make the All-Star game since Omar Vizquel in 2002, and Chris Perez is the team’s first closer to be selected since Bob Wickman in 2005. Cabrera leads the team in batting (.291), homers (14) and RBIs (49).
ABOUT THE YANKEES (50-32): Shortstop Derek Jeter (calf) is expected to rejoin the team Monday after playing two rehab games in Double-A Trenton. Eduardo Nunez went 7-for-8 with a homer and three doubles in place of Jeter before being held out Sunday with a tight right hamstring. The Yankees have recalled right-handed reliever Lance Pendleton from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. New York used six pitchers in Sunday’s 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Mets.
FINAL PITCH: Indians Left fielder Travis Buck has missed two straight games with a tight left hamstring. … The Yankees took three of four at home when these teams met June 10-13 …Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira ranks fourth in the majors with 65 RBIs and teammate Curtis Granderson is 10th with 58.