Frank Lorenzo
New York Yankees (-112, 8.5 o/u) at Cleveland Indians (+102)
The New York Yankees (61-51, 29-30 Away) are in their biggest slump of the season after losing five straight. Tonight, the team will look to turn things around in the last game of their series with the Cleveland Indians (53-59, 24-33 Home) at Progressive Field (7:10 PM Eastern).
The Yanks’ losing streak has dropped them to second in the AL East standings for the first time since early July. They are now a half game below the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays, who have won ten straight.
New York has dropped the first two games in Cleveland, 5-4 (in 16 innings) on Tuesday followed by a narrow 2-1 loss last night. Abraham Almonte had a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth yesterday to give the Indians a lead they would not surrender.
The win was the fourth in a row for Cleveland. The disappointing squad remains last in the AL Central, 14.5 games behind the division-leading Royals, but are now just 5.5 back of the second Wild Card spot in a crowded AL race.
Tonight, the Yankees will send Nathan Eovaldi (11-2, 4.15 ERA) to the mound; the righty is 6-0 over his last nine starts and hasn’t lost since June 16 against the Miami Marlins. He left his last outing (against the Blue Jays) with a no-decision after going 6.1 innings and allowing just five hits and one run. Though his season ERA is a bit inflated at 4.15, he’s posted a 2.83 ERA over his last seven.
Trevor Bauer (9-8, 4.06 ERA) will counter Eovaldi for the Indians. Bauer, who is just 24 years old, earned a W in his last start against the Twins. He did give up seven hits and four earned over 6.1 innings, but the Cleveland offense backed him up with a ludicrous 17 runs.
New York will be a desperate team tonight and should have a slight edge in the pitching matchup thanks to Eovaldi’s recent uptick. Though the Yankees are modest road favorites, they still look like the better play.
Pick: Yankees (-112).
