New York @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2011 ) NY Yankees 9, Cleveland 2

THE STORY: Phil Hughes will start for the first time in nearly three months when the visiting New York Yankees take on the Cleveland Indians in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday night. Hughes went on the disabled list in mid-April with a "dead arm" after he was lit up in his first three starts, failing to get through five innings. A serious drop in velocity prompted the Yankees to run a battery of tests before Hughes was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation. He will be opposed by Cleveland’s Justin Masterson. A victory Wednesday would give the Yankees eight straight series wins.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, YES (New York), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Phil Hughes (0-1, 13.94 ERA) vs. Indians RH Justin Masterson (6-6, 2.85).

Hughes was clocked at 94 mph in his last rehab outing at Double A Trenton when he struck out eight and allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. That satisfied New York's brass to the point where eight-game winner Ivan Nova was sent to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for Hughes, an 18-game winner and an All-Star selection a year ago. He is 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA in three career starts against the Indians. Hughes has not faced any Cleveland player more than six times. Masterson snapped an 11-game winless streak last time out by limiting the Cincinnati Reds to one run on four hits in eight innings. Masterson was 0-6 in May and June despite allowing two earned runs or fewer in eight of his 11 starts. He won his first five starts in April, giving up only eight runs. Derek Jeter is 5-for-12 and Robinson Cano 5-for-10 against Masterson, who is 1-2 with a 3.80 ERA in seven appearances (three starts) against New York.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (45-39): Cleveland went down meekly to former teammate CC Sabathia and the Yankees 9-2 on Tuesday night. Now the Indians have to hold their breath and hope that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera’s ankle injury is nothing more than a mild sprain. Cabrera is listed as day-to-day after turning the ankle while making a force play at second base. Cabrera, who is one of Cleveland’s two All-Star selections, is batting .292 with 14 homers. Grady Sizemore had two hits for the Indians, who got their only runs in the ninth on sacrifice flies by Lou Marson and Michael Brantley.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (51-33): The Jeter watch is back on after New York’s captain had two hits to move within four of 3,000 for his career. Another veteran that bears watching is closer Mariano Rivera, who was unavailable for his second straight game because of tenderness in his right triceps. The 41-year-old Rivera said he was not concerned the ailment would linger. Curtis Granderson had three hits, including a pair of homers that tied him with Mark Teixeira for the team lead with 25. Nick Swisher continues to produce runs. He has driven in 28 runs in 31 games since June 1.

FINAL PITCH: With the exception of catcher Francisco Cervilli, every starter in New York’s lineup had a multi-hit game Tuesday night.