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The Indians will be playing AL East clubs (with one exception) from now until the last week of July, and they'll start with the first place team.
Team in a Box (Click to Enlarge)
The Yankees don't have many weaknesses. They have the second-best offense in the league behind Texas, and a good pitching staff as well. Their defensive efficiency shows that their range isn't all that great, but they get to the ball, they'll catch it.
Typical Lineup
| Pos. | Player | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS+ | PA | |
| SS | Derek Jeter | .310 | .360 | .421 | 109 | 324 | |
| CF | Curtis Granderson | .248 | .343 | .514 | 126 | 319 | |
| 3B | Alex Rodriguez | .265 | .355 | .428 | 110 | 296 | |
| 2B | Robinson Cano | .295 | .362 | .546 | 140 | 301 | |
| 1B | Mark Teixeira | .256 | .336 | .468 | 113 | 286 | |
| LF | Raul Ibanez | .235 | .293 | .476 | 102 | 205 | |
| RF | Nick Swisher | .268 | .332 | .487 | 117 | 256 | |
| DH | Eric Chavez | .267 | .313 | .476 | 108 | 115 | |
| C | Russell Martin | .197 | .323 | .383 | 89 | 217 | |
This is an old lineup, with only two players (Cano and Martin) under 30, but it's a deep one, with few holes in it. Alex Rodriguez is slowing down, but Cano and Granderson have picked up the slack in the power department. The Yankees are getting good production from 40-year-old Raul Ibanez and 35-year-old Andruw Jones in left field, and 34-year-old Eric Chavez in a part-time role.
Projected Starters
| Date | Pitcher | ERA | Innings | SO/9 | BB/9 | H/9 | |
| June 25 | Hiroki Kuroda | 3.57 | 88.1 | 6.3 | 2.9 | 8.8 | |
| June 26 | Phil Hughes | 4.94 | 78.1 | 8.8 | 2.3 | 9.8 | |
| June 27 | Andy Pettitte | 3.29 | 54.2 | 8.6 | 2.3 | 7.6 | |
The Indians will miss CC Sabathia, but they'll be getting the other Yankee southpaw in Andy Pettitte, who has been very effective since returning to the majors in mid-May.
Key Relievers
| Throws | Pitcher | ERA | Innings | SO/9 | BB/9 | H/9 | |
| Right | Rafael Soriano | 1.71 | 26.1 | 8.2 | 3.4 | 9.2 | |
| Right | David Robertson | 2.60 | 17.1 | 15.1 | 4.2 | 7.3 | |
| Left | Boone Logan | 2.73 | 26.1 | 12.0 | 3.4 | 7.9 | |
Mariano Rivera is done for the season and David Robertson has missed some time, but even with those losses, the Yankees have still been fine in the bullpen. They've gotten some very good innings from castoffs like Cory Wade and Clay Rapada. Boone Logan leads the league in appearances, and it's almost a given that the Indians will see him at least twice this season.
On the Shelf
- RHP David Aarsma (elbow ligament) - 60-day DL
- LHP Cesar Cabral (elbow fracture) - 60-day DL
- RHP Joba Chamberlain (MCL, ankle) - 60-day DL
- LHP Pedro Feliciano (shoulder) - 60-day DL
- LF Brett Gardner (elbow) - 15-day DL
- C Russell Martin (back) - Day-to-Day
- RHP Brad Meyers - (shoulder) - 60-day DL
- RHP Michael Pineda (shoulder) - Out for the season
- RHP Mariano Rivera (knee) - Out for the season
- C Austin Romine (back) - 60-day DL
The Yankees have been hit hard by injuries, especially to the pitching staff. Chamberlain has been out all season recovering from a trampoline mishap, and Mariano Rivera and Michael Pineda will both miss the rest of the season. Aside from Brett Gardner, they've been fairly healthy on the position player side of the ledger, and they've managed to get by with Ibanez and Jones in left field.
talonk's Almanac
| All-Time Record | 869-1085 (.442) | ||
| Runs Scored/Allowed | 8346 | 9497 | |
| Pythagorean Win % | .441 | ||
| Best Record | 16-6 | 1908 | |
| Worst Record | 3-15 | 1964 | |