MLB Picks: Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees

The Cleveland Indians (30-27) and New York Yankees (32-25) will continue a three-game American League series Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET

Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are hoping 1B Mark Teixeira carries the offense Tuesday night

Cleveland has dropped seven of its last 10 games, including a 7-4 series-opening loss to New York as +105 road underdogs Monday, while going OVER the total for a second consecutive contest. “We’ve been in a stretch right now where we haven’t played as well as we’d like to,” commented Indians pitcher Justin Masterson. The club is currently occupying second place in the AL Central division—sitting just a game behind the Tigers. Cleveland is 5-7 as road underdogs of +125 to +150, with the UNDER going 6-5-1 in that situation.

Indians starting pitcher Scott Kazmir (3-2, 5.13 ERA) has watched the club alternate wins and losses over his last five outings, as he picked up a 7-1 home victory over the Cincinnati Reds last time out. The left-hander is 0-2 with a 6.87 ERA in four road outings, with opposing hitters batting .312 against him. In 17 career games (16 starts) versus the Yankees, Kazmir has tallied a winning 7-6 record and 3.34 ERA.

New York managed to score more than four runs for the first time since May 24 last time out, with first baseman Mark Teixeira leading the charge, as he blasted his eighth career grand slam. “It’s a lot of fun,” commented Yankees outfielder Brett Garner. “Teixeira just came back the other day.” The Yankees have won nine of their last 11 games against the Indians, while going 11-2 in their last 13 meetings in the Bronx. New York is 7-3 as home favorites of -125 to -150, with the UNDER going 5-4-1 in that situation.

Yankees starting pitcher David Phelps (3-3, 4.65 ERA) managed to record just a single out in suffering a 9-4 home loss to the New York Mets last time out, as he allowed five runs (four earned) and four hits. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 5.18 ERA in seven home appearances (three starts), but he’s surrendered just one home run in 24.1 combined innings. Phelps was handed a 1-0 road loss to the Indians in his first career appearance against them on May 13, as he allowed one run and four hits over 6.2 frames.