Yanks Go Yard Series Preview Show: Yankees at Indians (8/24-8/26)

Now, the panic has set in amongst the Yankee fan population. After the team got swept by the Chicago White Sox, they now stand just 2.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. The problem for the Yankees in that series was that they did not get timely pitching from Freddy Garcia or Ivan Nova and the White Sox can hit the long ball just as well as New York can. But, these next six games could help the Yankees re-gain some of the lead back if they play their cards right despite losing Nova to the 15-day DL.

The Yankees will travel to Progressive Field to take on the Cleveland Indians, who have been spiraling downward since late June. Recently, they have lost eight games in a row and have one of the worst records in the MLB since the All-Star Break. The one thing the Yankees have going for them in this series is they are 27-12 against Cleveland since 2007 and they swept the Tribe at Yankee Stadium back in late June.

This is a series that sets up perfectly for the Bombers. They return from their first day off in nearly three weeks by throwing CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda in the first two games this weekend. However, there are still some hitters to watch for in this Indians’ lineup. Second baseman Jason Kipnis went 5-14 with a homer in Cleveland’s last series after enduring a 48-game homerless streak. Plus, left fielder Shin-Soo Choo has had multi-hit contests in three of his last five games to go with his fifteen home runs this season.

To preview this series, I spoke with Ed Carroll and Merritt Rholfing from Wahoosonfirst.com to discuss this weekend’s series. Also, we look into some players the Indians will bring up when the rosters expand next week. We also reminisce about the 2007 ALDS and talk about whether or not the Yankees could use Choo in the offseason in some form of trade.

Note: This show was recorded at 1:30 PM Thursday before the news that Nova was placed on the DL with the inflamed rotator cuff.

CLICK HERE FOR THE YANKEES-INDIANS SERIES PREVIEW SHOW!!!