The New York Yankees are looking for their first series win since June 21 and look take one from the Cleveland Indians in the last series of the first half. 

  • New York Yankees (41-43)
  • Cleveland Indians (51-33)
  • American League, 7:10 PM ET, YES Network
  • Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
The Cleveland Indians will host the New York Yankees in the final series of the firsts half – a four-game set at Progressive Field.

Both teams are coming off defeats on Wednesday as the Bombers were shutout in Chicago while the Tribe was trounced by the Detroit Tigers 12-2. The Yankees have lost four of the six games of this road trip and currently sit in fourth place in the American League East. The Indians have won seven of their last ten and currently sit atop the AL Central by 6.5 games.

Obviously, one team is in a better place than the other, but time is running out for the Yankees to make themselves contenders. Taking the series will not only bring them back to .500, but could also keep them from participating in a fire sale.

Yes, it’s early. And yes, this is still a big series for the Yankees.

Pitching Matchup:

Ivan Nova will be making his twelve start of 2016 while looking for his first win since June 9.

In his four starts since then, he is 0-2 with a 6.98 including an opponents slash line of .333/.387/.560. Also during this turbulent stretch, he has surrendered four home runs in 19.1 innings.

He did, however, show some reassuring symptoms in his last start as he held the San Diego Padres to a run on four hits while striking out seven in 5.1 innings of work.

Cleveland sends Trevor Bauer to the hill who earned his last victory out of the bullpen during their 19 inning marathon with the Toronto Blue Jays. In that outing, he tossed five shutout innings after coming off a June in which the righty went 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA in six starts.

In Bauer’s career against the Yankees, he is 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA including 24 hits surrendered in 26.1 innings.

Starting Lineups: 

Players To Watch:

Brian McCann

McCann takes a hot bat to Cleveland (.341 since June 19) and faces off against a pitcher in which he has a ton of success against.

In 11 at-bats against Bauer, McCann has recorded four hits (.364) with a home run and four RBIs.

Rajai Davis 

Nova likely gets migraines whenever Davis steps up to the plate. Why? Look no further than his .417/.500/.583 slash line against him. 

The Indians’ outfielder is also 14-for-42 (.333) in the last two weeks including an OPS of .960. In his career against the Yankees, the speedster has stolen 24 bases on 30 attempts.

Bold Prediction:

Nova will not record his first win since June 9, but McCann will drive in two runs to help the Yankees take a late lead. Then, the three-headed monster slams the door. Brett Gardner will also hit a solo home run to pad the lead.

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