Oswaldo Cabrera has been the starting third baseman since Chisholm's injury and has done a great job. He's 3-for-9 in his last two starts while making some great plays at the hot corner.

Cabrera seems to have taken the third base role for now, but Oswald Peraza was recalled this week and could see some run. The young infielder will likely come in as a pinch-runner or potential defensive replacement but we'll have to see if he gets a start over the switch-hitting Cabrera in one of these games.

Juan Soto/Aaron Judge

The dynamic Yankees duo is on another level right now. Soto is coming off a run where he's hit six home runs in his last seven games including four against the White Sox earlier this week.

Judge just hit his 300th career home run and continues his MVP pace. But how will the Tigers pitch to them this weekend?

Some teams are intentionally walking Judge to get to the middle-to-bottom of the lineup while others -- Grady Sizemore -- intentionally walked Soto to get to the former MVP. While we shouldn't expect that bold strategy, a storyline this weekend will be how Tigers manager A.J. Hinch navigates the top of the Yankees order and whether the cleanup hitter can protect them.

And speaking of...

Austin Wells/Jose Trevino

Veteran catcher Jose Trevino was reinstated from the IL on Thursday and will rejoin the team for the Tigers series.

Since Trevino landed on the IL in mid-July, the rookie Wells has taken well to the added playing time, becoming the team's de-factor cleanup hitter in most games. Boone has hinted that he will still get Wells' bat in the lineup as much as he can, but how will that look?

Gerrit Cole is slated to start Friday and Trevino is his catcher of choice. Also, will Boone start Wells against a lefty like Skubal? Will Wells DH? So many questions on how the catcher's situation will be in the final two months, but this weekend should give us an idea.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Aaron Judge.

Judge may have been pressing to get his 300th career home run, but now that he has the pressure is off and he can mash more regularly.

Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?

Gerrit Cole.

Cole was solid in his last start, giving up one run in 5.1 innings against the Rangers. While the Yanks continue to be mindful of his pitch count, Cole will likely pitch to Trevino on Friday night.

In 45 games pitching to Trevino, Cole has a 2.83 ERA and opponents are hitting just .213 against the tandem.

Which Tigers player will be a thorn in Yankees' side?

Kerry Carpenter.

Carpenter was just activated from the IL this week and has given teams fits already. In the three-game series with Seattle, Carpenter went 4-for-12 with three home runs.

Going up against two right-handers in Cole and Marcus Stroman this weekend, the lefty Carpenter could do some damage.

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