Yankees: Scouting their toughest early stretch of the season

Game one: Sabathia vs Trevor Bauer

The Yankees get another tough matchup in Bauer (2-2, 2.41 ERA), who has carried over his second-half success in 2017 into this season, looking like he has taken the next step as a starter. He hammered Judge with devastating sliders low-and-away in the ALDS, striking him out in all five at-bats and holding the Yankees to just two hits and no runs in almost seven innings of work in his first start of the series. The Yankees got to him in the deciding game five though, and Judge has made a lot of adjustments against low-and-away breaking pitches this year.

CC pitched pretty well against the Indians in the ALDS, starting the decisive game five and finishing with 14 strikeouts in just 9 2/3 innings pitched throughout the series. He should be up for this matchup, and I give the Yankees a slight edge given their more powerful offense and the Indians recent sending of relief ace Andrew Miller to the DL.

Game two: Gray vs Mike Clevinger

Gray got touched up in his opening start against the Indians in the ALDS, only lasting 3 1/3 innings after letting up three runs and struggling to find the strike zone. His inability to throw strikes and get ahead of batters has followed him into 2018, and I don’t think the boo birds at Yankee Stadiums will do much to help him. Coupled with Clevinger’s (2-0, 2.56 ERA) strong start to the season, the advantage goes to the Indians.

Game three: Montgomery vs Josh Tomlin

The Yankees hold a clear advantage in this game, with Montgomery facing off against a struggling Tomlin (0-3, 9.24 ERA) who has already given up eight HRs thus far this season. Tomlin’s been struggling to locate his pitches, and coupled with his lack of elite velocity or movement, the Yankees could feast off him. There’s a clear advantage for the Yankees in this series finale.