Luis Severino and the New York Yankees will have their postseason-readiness put to the test as the reigning AL Champions come to town.
A potential postseason matchup is on tap in the Bronx on Monday night, as the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians enter Yankee Stadium to take on the New York Yankees, who own sole possession of the first Wild Card spot.
In addition to two contenders matching up, their best starters will go head-to-head. Cory Kluber and Luis Severino, who make-up two of the top-three leaders in ERA in the American League, will face-off in what should be must-see-baseball.
Severino will make his 26th start of the season coming off his 11th win of the season on Wednesday at Detroit. The righty allowed just one earned run in 6.2 innings while fanning eight.It marked the seventh time in eight starts that the 23-year-old has allowed one run-or-fewer.
Additionally, he owns a 6-1 record with a 2.16 ERA over the stretch since the All-Star break, tying him for the Major League lead in wins and fourth in ERA over that span.
Kluber is 12-4 on the year with a 2.65 ERA — the best in the AL — heading into this matchup. He is 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA in five starts in the month of August and on Wednesday, he struck out 12 Boston Red Sox batters while allowing two runs in 7.2 innings in an eventual loss.
In his only start against the Yankees this season, Kluber registered a complete game at Progressive Field thanks to 11 strikeouts compared to no walks and just three hits allowed.
Lineups:
Yankees vs. Indians tonight at 7:05pm on @YESNetwork pic.twitter.com/VMd3nEJOXx
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) August 28, 2017
Player To Watch: Francisco Lindor
For the record, Lindor is a guy who should always have your attention but his success against Luis Severino makes him a force to be reckoned with in this matchup. In eight career at-bats, the 23-year-old shortstop has recorded three hits including a home run. He also owns a home run against the Yankees this season when the Indians hosted them in a four-game set at Progressive Field.
Let’s Get It Started:
On Sunday, the Yankees’ offense scored six runs in the first inning, matching their highest scoring frame of the season. They have also scored at least 10 runs in three of their last six games, forming an offensive juggernaut no team wants to face in the heat of a pennant race.
Ells-Burying It:
Yankees’ outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury has hit safely in seven straight starts (since August). He has also driven in at least two runs in six of his last ten starts after collecting at least two RBIs in just three of his first 57 starts this season. Over his last five games (three starts), he has gone 5-for-14 with a home run and six RBI’s.
This Day In Yankees’ History:
On August 28, 2004, Tony Clark crushed three home runs off three different Toronto Blue Jays’ pitchers as the Yankees routed Toronto by a score of 18-6 at the Rogers Centre.
How To Watch:
- Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
- Channel: YES Network, ESPN, SportsTime Ohio
- Radio: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WTAM/WMMS/IRN
- Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
