The Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees are set to face off against each other for the first time this year Friday night at Yankee Stadium

Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees

Cleveland wrapped up a 1-6 homestand with a 3-2 loss to Minnesota and now gets set for a weekend series in the Bronx.  “It was a poor homestand,” Indians manager Manny Acta commented.  “I’m very disappointed today that we couldn’t get a win.  We’re just having poor at-bats.”  The Indians went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position on Wednesday to extend their current drought to 1-for-40 in such situations.  Entering the stand, Cleveland paced the American league with a .303 average with RISP.  The club has now lost 11 of 15, but will look to improve upon its 14-14 record on the road this season.  Cleveland is 25-17 versus right-handed starters this year and 5-2 following an off day.

Indians starting pitcher Fausto Carmona is 3-7 with a 5.33 ERA in 13 starts this season and will be looking to end a four-game losing streak.  The right-hander is coming off a 4-0 home loss to the Rangers, giving up four runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.  Carmona has made six road starts, tallying a 1-4 record and 5.89 ERA, as opponents are hitting .274 against him.  In 10 career appearances (seven starts) versus the Yankees, he has produced a 1-4 mark and 6.53 ERA, issuing 19 walks and striking out just 18 batters in 40 frames.  He enters with an even 1-1 record and 6.00 ERA in two lifetime outings at the current Yankee Stadium.

New York waited an extra three hours and 27 minutes to start Thursday night’s series finale against Boston, only to fall 8-3 at Yankee Stadium and ultimately get swept.  “There’s a lot of baseball to be played until we see them again,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi.  “How we play the next month and a half or two months until we see them is going to have a lot to do with where we’re at.”  The Yankees have actually dropped 10 of 14 at home, but have a good chance of turning things around versus a Cleveland squad that it has won 10 of 13 against.  New York is 21-20 versus right-handed starters this year and 17-8 the last three years when playing after three or more consecutive losses.

Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova will make his 12th start (13th appearance) of the year, bringing in a 4-4 record and 4.50 ERA.  Among American League rookie starters, he is tied for fourth in wins (4), ranks fifth in ERA (4.50) and ranks sixth in innings pitched (60.0).  Nova has registered a 2-2 record and 4.96 ERA in six home starts, allowing 42 hits in 32 2/3 innings, as opponents are hitting .313 against him.  He will be making his first career start versus Cleveland tonight.

Bettors will likely back the Indians due to their 6-1 record in their last seven road games versus a team with a winning record, while the Yankees are 0-4 in their last four Friday games