The Yankees (83-42, 10.5 GA in AL East) complete their four-game series with the American League Wild Card-leading Cleveland Indians (73-51, 2.5 GB in AL Central, 1.0 GA in first Wild Card) Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Yankees notes
The Yankees held off the Indians for a 6-5 win Saturday afternoon, fueled by four home runs -- two from SS Gleyber Torres, whose 2-for-4 day at the plate featured two solo shots. In the third and fifth spots, respectively, 1B DJ LeMahieu and DH Didi Gregorious added homers to highlight the Yankees' eight-hit offensive performance. LHP James Paxton scattered six hits and four runs (all earned) with four strikeouts to three walks in five innings of the start, improving to 9-6 on the season. The Yankees went with four relief pitchers across the final four innings -- RHPs Adam Ottavino and Tommy Kahnle over the sixth and seventh before LHPs Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman in the eighth and ninth -- to seal the one-run victory. Chapman converted his 35th save of the year when he recorded a one-two-three frame to wrap up the ballgame.
| Indians | Yankees |
|---|---|
| Francisco Lindor, SS | DJ LeMahieu, 1B |
| Oscar Mercado, LF | Aaron Judge, RF |
| Carlos Santana, 1B | Didi Gregorius, DH |
| Yasiel Puig, RF | Gio Urshela, 3B |
| Franmil Reyes, DH | Gary Sanchez, C |
| Roberto Perez, C | Brett Gardner, CF |
| Jason Kipnis, 2B | Gleyber Torres, 2B |
| Greg Allen, CF | Mike Ford, DH |
| Mike Freeman, 3B | Mike Tauchman, LF |
Who is starting for the Yankees?
LHP CC Sabathia (5-6 overall, 4.78 ERA) makes his first start since July 27 at Boston, where he went 4.1 innings with nine hits and five runs (all earned) in a 9-5 loss to the Red Sox. Sabathia, who spent the past three weeks on the 10-day IL with right knee inflammation, was reactivated Sunday morning by the Yankees. RHP Ryan Dull, whom the Yankees brought in Wednesday off waivers from the San Francisco Giants, was optioned to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Who is starting for the Indians?
RHP Mike Clevinger (7-2, overall, 3.34 ERA) struggled in his last start Aug. 13 against the Red Sox when he allowed a career-high 11 hits and four runs in 4.2 innings of the Indians' 7-6 loss. Clevinger aims for a rebound performance similar to his Aug. 8 outing at Minnesota, where he scattered three hits and two runs with nine strikeouts to one walk in seven innings of the Indians' 7-5 win over the Twins.
Upcoming schedule
The Yankees take Monday off before they resume their slate Tuesday at Oakland, embarking on a three-game series against the Athletics (71-52, 0.5 GB in second Wild Card) with ace RHP Domingo German (16-2, 3.96 ERA) set to face RHP Homer Bailey (10-8, 5.22 ERA). First pitch is projected for 10:07 p.m. ET at the Oakland Coliseum.
