CC Sabathia To Start In Game 2 Of The ALDS For New York As They Look To Bounce Back As They Take On Cleveland

CC Sabathia will take on one of his former teams Friday as he gets the start for New York on the mound against Cleveland and Corey Kluber in game two of the American League Division Series where New York hopes to even things up.

As the Indians sank in the standings in the summer of 2008 and free agency loomed for their ace, they traded CC Sabathia, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, to the Milwaukee Brewers. That offseason, Sabathia signed a (since-expanded) seven-year, $161 million contract with the Yankees. At the time he signed on the dotted line in the Bronx way back when, it would have been impossible to imagine what awaits us today (5 p.m. ET, MLB Network) in Game 2 of this AL Division Series presented by Doosan. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

Cleveland is an AL power now. The Indians have a 1-0 lead in this best-of-five series, and they've got a chance to take a commanding lead if their current ace, Corey Kluber, can outpitch their old one. It's Sabathia and the Yanks who are the underdogs here, and that makes Sabathia's return to his roots with so much on the line an undeniably compelling plot point. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

"It's a different feeling for us, obviously, being the underdogs," Sabathia said. "But you can't tell anybody in that room we're underdogs. We feel like we should be here, and we feel like we can play with anybody." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

The Yankees will have to maintain that mentality as they go up against one of the best pitchers in the game. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

Kluber steamrolled his way to the forefront of the AL Cy Young Award discussion by going 15-2 with a 1.62 ERA and a .175/.213/.283 opponents' slash line in his last 23 starts of the season. It was a remarkable run that made the Indians' decision not to start him in Game 1, well, remarkable. But Trevor Bauer delivered big-time, and that gives the Tribe an unmistakable advantage in Game 2. What would a 2-0 lead mean for Cleveland? Well, 87.5 percent of teams that have taken such a lead in the Division Series have gone on to win. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

So, yeah, it would mean a lot. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

"Now we're up, 1-0, and our ace is on the mound," Indians catcher Roberto Perez said. "He's going to give us a chance to win another ballgame, and we believe in each other in this clubhouse." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

As for the Yanks, it's not hard to pinpoint their point of emphasis here: They need to hit. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

They didn't do much of that in Game 1, flummoxed by Bauer's heavy curveball usage and ability to execute the high strike. Kluber's breaking ball -- some call it a curve, some say it's a slider -- is simply one of the best in the game. Batters hit just .096 against it this season. So the Yankees will undoubtedly have to adjust. Kluber faced the Yanks twice in August and allowed just three runs on six hits with 18 strikeouts in 17 innings. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

"He's a guy that we've seen before," left fielder Brett Gardner said. "The last time we faced him, he obviously had his way with us. He's one of the best, if not the best pitcher in the league. Over the course of a series, we're going to have to face him at some point. We just need to come out and have a little better at-bats and get a little bit going earlier in the game with guys on base." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

An early lead is essential for the Yankees. It would allow for an aggressive hook on Sabathia and an employment of their deep and powerful bullpen ahead of an off-day. After recording 26 outs Tuesday night in the AL Wild Card Game, the Yanks' bullpen will be reasonably ready to roll for Game 2 thanks to Jaime Garcia's 2 2/3 innings of work in Game 1. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

"Physically, they're fine," manager Joe Girardi said. "We should have probably everybody back [Friday]. I won't have Jaime Garcia, but I think as far as our bullpen, they're in a pretty good spot." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

The Yankees are in a tough spot, no doubt. But they've got a tough man -- a veteran who has battled knee woes, velocity decline and a highly publicized off-the-field issue to remain relevant more than 3,000 innings into his career -- on the mound. For Sabathia, it has been a long, long road back to the postseason stage at Progressive Field. He last pitched here in an October environment in Game 5 of the 2007 AL Championship Series. Against the Tribe and against Kluber, Sabathia is an underdog hoping to have his day. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

"He's a big-game pitcher," Gardner said. "He's obviously pitched in a lot of big games in his career. I'm looking forward to seeing him compete against Kluber. It'll be fun to watch." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171006257590050/sabathia-kluber-set-to-duel-in-game-2/?game_pk=526478

As for New York and Cleveland's last game, Cleveland took the opener of the five game series.

Unfortantly New York didn't get the start they were hoping for in the American League Division Series as they were shutout by Cleveland Thursday.

The Yankees found out what they are up against on Thursday night, and the Indians showed precisely why they are no longer the underdogs who reached the World Series a year ago. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Behind an overpowering outing by Trevor Bauer and some offensive heroics from Jay Bruce, Cleveland took Game 1 of the American League Division Series presented by Doosan with a 4-0 victory at a loud and raucous Progressive Field. It marked the first step in the Indians' quest to not only win consecutive AL pennants, but to finish what they could not last fall: Bring home their first World Series title since 1948. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"It couldn't have gone any better for us," said Bruce, who homered and drove in three runs. "It's a dangerous team with all the guys that can leave the ballpark with one swing, and the guys that run the bases well. I mean, they have a very dynamic lineup over there, and for us to show them none of that was important." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

The depth of Cleveland's pitching staff created flexibility for manager Terry Francona, who surprised plenty of people when he opted to hand the ball to Bauer, not ace Corey Kluber, for the ALDS opener. Bauer answered the call by cruising through 17 consecutive batters before relinquishing a hit to Aaron Hicks in the longest no-hit bid (5 1/3 innings) in Indians postseason history. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Bauer's performance came as no surprise to Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"Trevor has always been more of a big-game guy, wanting that spotlight," Callaway said."according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Now armed with a 1-0 lead in the series, the Indians will turn to Kluber for Game 2 on Friday, when the Yanks will counter with former Tribe ace CC Sabathia. In Division Series history, the team that has won the first game has gone on to win 66 of 92 series. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"This has been a guy we've relied on heavily after losses this year, and he's pitched some of the biggest wins for us during the course of the year," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's been in a ton of these games, and you know that there's no situation that is too big for CC." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Sonny Gray's Yanks postseason debut lasted just 3 1/3 innings, as the right-hander struggled with his command. Issuing four walks while also hitting a batter, Gray was charged with three runs on three hits. Cleveland's biggest blow off Gray came in the fourth, when Bruce followed a leadoff walk to Edwin Encarnacion with a towering two-run homer to right field. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"It's tough," Gray said. "You put everyone on our side at a disadvantage, going out there and doing that. It put us in a hole that we weren't able to climb out of." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

The crowd erupted in a cry of "Bruuuce!" as fireworks popped and the slugger made his way around the bases. Acquired in an August trade with the Mets, Bruce also doubled and scored in the second, and he brought home an important insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"He's a veteran guy," Francona said of Bruce. "I don't think a game like tonight is going to be too big for him. I think he was more excited than anything." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Francona's strategy for this postseason will mirror last October, when the manager leaned heavily on his relief corps. Bauer's no-hit run bought him more time on the hill, and the right-hander logged 6 2/3 frames before his manager summoned lefty relief ace Andrew Miller from the 'pen. Bauer struck out eight, scattered two hits and walked one in the scoreless effort. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Bauer said the no-hitter was not on his mind at any point. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"No, not at all," Bauer said. "The mindset was to go out there like a closer in the first inning and put up a scoreless inning at all costs. And then, if I was still in the game, do it again in the second inning and the third and on until I was taken out of the game. So no-hitter, 10-hitter or whatever, that was the mindset. I never really strayed from that." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Miller, who set single-postseason records a year ago in innings by a reliever (19 1/3) and multi-inning appearances (10), struck out three of the five batters he faced, but a pair of walks in the eighth led to closer Cody Allen's entrance. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Allen was tasked with facing slugger Aaron Judge, who chased a curveball that broke low and out of the zone for an inning-ending strikeout. The closer remained on the mound for the ninth and set down the Yankees in order, notching his seventh career postseason save and sealing the victory for Cleveland. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"You can't say enough about the job that Trevor and the rest of the pitching staff did tonight," Bruce said. "And we were able to put some runs on the board. They really never got to get anything going." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

The Indians began experimenting with Kipnis -- a second baseman for his entire Major League career -- in center field only three weeks ago. In the third inning, Kipnis faced his biggest defensive test yet, and he delivered a catch that had the Progressive Field crowd roaring. Chase Headley sliced a pitch from Bauer deep over the left-center-field gap, where Kipnis made a jaw-dropping diving catch. Per Statcast™, the center fielder covered 88 feet in 4.7 seconds on a play that had a 26-percent catch probability. That made the out a 4-Star catch for Kipnis, who shouted in celebration from his knees after pulling off the stunning grab. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"I think that's the biggest play of the game," Bauer said. "I was pretty pumped up about that. I think there's some people that have kind of doubted his ability in center field, given that he hasn't played a whole lot out there. But hopefully that puts that narrative to rest. We all trusted that he could go out there and play defense like that." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"Initially when I first hit it, I didn't hit it as sound as I could have," Headley said. "But as the play developed and I was running to first, I thought it had a pretty good chance to get down. He ran it down and made a great play. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Two batters after Hicks ended Bauer's no-hitter, Judge stepped to the plate with two outs and a runner on third base. After falling behind, 2-0, Bauer worked the count even and then froze Judge with a curveball that dropped over the inside edge of the zone for a strikeout. Bauer struck out Judge in each of their three battles. On the night, Bauer ended with 19 called strikes overall, including eight with his curve."according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"My curveball was good from the start," Bauer said. "I need to have my best pitch working for me early, so I did a little extra work on that to try to ensure that was the case, and fortunately it was. I was able to throw that pitch pretty much from the outset." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"I was sitting on a different pitch," Judge said. "He was mixing curveball, slider, fastball in there pretty well. I tried to pick a different pitch out there with a guy in scoring position. I just guessed the wrong one." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

: During the regular season, Cleveland posted a 78-21 record when it scored the first run. That trend continued on Thursday, when the Indians loaded the bases with no outs in the second. Bruce got things rolling with a double off Gray that clanked off the wall in left field. Carlos Santana followed with a single, and Gray hit Lonnie Chisenhall to put three runners aboard. Gray then induced a double-play groundout off the bat of Roberto Perez, but it scored one run. And that proved to be enough.  "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"I felt OK. I thought my stuff was good," Gray said. "When you put that many guys on base, more times than not, it's not going to turn out in your favor." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"I think the pitcher that you see now, with the great pitch mix and the way he uses it, is a byproduct of all the things he's thought about along the way. He is who he is today, and did what he did tonight, because of the way he's prepared himself since he was probably 10, and all the things he thought about." -- Callaway, on Bauer "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"He pitched his heart out. I thought, when the moment arose, he attacked it. He embraced everything that was thrown at him tonight. His poise was tremendous. All the way around, he attacked the strike zone with all his pitches." -- Francona, on Bauer "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

"Got a good read on it, on the jump. Fortunately, [Chisenhall] kind of peeled off and went back to back me up so there wouldn't be a collision or something like that. It was a fun one to be able to run after and cut it down." -- Kipnis, on his catch "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

This marks the second time in Yanks postseason history that their starters did not complete four innings in each of the team's first two games of the playoffs. The other occurrence was the 1956 World Series (Whitey Ford and Don Larsen in Games 1 and 2, respectively). "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

Cleveland's shutout was the 14th in the franchise's postseason history, and its first since blanking the Cubs, 1-0, in Game 3 of the 2016 World Series. The Indians led the Majors with 19 shutouts during the regular season this year. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257551096/indians-shut-out-yankees-to-win-alds-opener/

With the win Cleveland leads the series 1-0 while New York drops to 0-1 in the ALDS.

Left-hander CC Sabathia will get the start for New York.  He has a record of 14-5 with a 3.69 earn run average. The 37 -year old will face the club that drafted him in the city where he blossomed into a big league star. No left-handedhas allowed a lower average exit velocity on batted balls than Sabathia (83.9 mph) this season. He will oppose Cleveland right -hander Corey Kluber who has a record of 18-4 with a 2.25 earn run average. After a Cy Young caliber season, Kluber will get the knod for Game 2 of the ALDS. The tribe ace led the Majors with a 2.25 earn run average. In 23 starts since June 1st , Kluber has gone 15-2 with a 1.62 earn run average and 224 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-indians/2017/10/06/526478#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526478

What will it take for New York to be able to get their offense going in game two with Corey Kluber on the mound? Will CC Sabathia be able to have a great game and perhaps give his team a chance to win? Will Cleveland be able to get their offense going against the veteran left-hander? Will Cleveland take a 2-0 lead in the series or will New York tie up the series at one game a piece?

First pitch is set for 5:00pm. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-indians/2017/10/06/526478#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526478