“Obviously, you’re going to have a game plan for each hitter, but not worrying about them as much as going with our strengths and how our strengths can best get those guys out”.
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The New York Yankees-fresh off an exciting win in the one-game Wild Card round-will visit the Cleveland Indians, while the Boston Red Sox will play the Houston Astros.
The Yankees are in desperate need of a win as they can not afford to drop two games in a row in Cleveland.
Clayton Kershaw is undeniably the best pitcher in baseball.
Kershaw has struggled in the postseason. Those folks who said no were surely in for a treat as the Dodgers went 1-16 over their next few games before a 12-6 “rebound” to finish the season 104-58, well below the record.
When the Dodgers were 91-36, all anyone could talk about was whether or not they’d break the all-time record for wins. Kipnis, who played in the outfield 11 times in the regular season after spending all of his career at second base, made a diving catch in the top of the third to rob Chase Headley of a leadoff double. His 2.25 ERA ranked ahead of Kershaw’s and was the best in all of baseball.
Though the Indians employ Corey Kluber, who is in line to win his second Cy Young award, right-hander Carlos Carrasco has pitched like an ace all season. “You have to make sure you move the ball around”. Indians Manager Terry Francona pulled lefty relief ace Andrew Miller for Cody Allen, who had seen Judge would be his hitter. The MVP candidate struck out four times, but Girardi isn’t anxious about the right fielder, who slumped miserably after the All-Star break before a strong finish.
It would also nearly immediately begin all sorts of “a new dynasty?” talk, considering all the young players on the Yankees (and all the ones who are coming).
Instead, it’ll be C.C. Sabathia that gets the call for NY. Brantley missed Cleveland’s run to the World Series a year ago following two shoulder surgeries. Cleveland surprised some by choosing Trevor Bauer to start Game 1 over ace Corey Kluber, while NY is expected to counter with Sonny Gray. Pictured: Kluber is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after the seventh inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 24, 2017 in Seattle. Add to the fact Judge’s batting average was 56 points higher at home than on the road, the Yankees may have to wait until they get back to NY for slugger to start hitting again. He matched Kluber for the most wins (18) in the American League, while posting a 3.29 ERA and ranking fifth with 226 strikeouts over 200 innings (32 starts).
Bauer mesmerized a lineup that just two days prior had banged three homers and scored eight runs in a wild-card slugfest with the Twins. Although Sonny Gray went only 3.1 innings, he managed to hold the Indians to three hits, one of those hits however was a two-run home run.
It was another productive game for the 10-year veteran obtained by the Indians from the New York Mets on August 9 in a non-waiver trade.
It just seems like this year is the Indians’ time to redeem blowing a 3-1 World Series lead last year.
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If Sabathia is able to match Kluber, the Yankees might have the advantage in the later innings. Verlander has dominated their personal series as he is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA with his team (the Tigers in all six previous meetings) winning the first five matchups before Sale turned the tables back in June (his team’s first four losses were when he was with the White Sox).
