Didi Gregorius Returns For New York's Opener In Cleveland
It has been quite awhile since we’ve seen the starting shortstop for New York and that is because he has been recovering as well as rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
On Friday night though the lineup will continue to get healthier as Didi Gregorius will return to the diamond at Progressive Field when New York who is a member of the American League East opens a three game series against Cleveland who is a member of the American League Central. New York comes into the game with a record of 39-22 while Cleveland comes into the game with a record of 31-31. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
Domingo German will start the opening game for New York. The right -hander comes into the game with a record of 9-1 with a 3.66 earn run average. German struck out eight in his last outing, but he needed 87 pitches to get through 3 2/3 innings, taking a no-decision vs. the Red Sox. In two efforts since winning six straight starts, German has allowed 10 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings (10.38 ERA). He will oppose Cleveland right -hander Zach Plesac who comes into the game with a record of 0-1 with an earn run average of 1.46.Plesac has had as good of a start to his Major League career as one could have. In two outings, he's allowed two runs on eight hits through 12 1/3 innings (1.46 ERA) with nine strikeouts. He'll look to secure his first big league win on Friday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
As for New York’s previous game they salvaged a game out of their three game series against Toronto.
After losing the first two games as well as the series it was the former Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ who helped New York not only salvage a game out of the series but helped New York avoid getting swept by an American League East foe.
Supporting a stellar seven-inning outing from J.A. Happ that snapped the Yanks' three-game losing streak, LeMahieu delivered a run scoring double in the second inning and an RBI single in the fourth. The knocks off Jackson improved LeMahieu's average to a Major League-best .491 (26-for-53) with runners in scoring position. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu's cool confidence in pressurized situations has earned him a nickname within the Yankees' clubhouse walls, as revealed after Thursday's game: "The Machine," bestowed upon LeMahieu by catcher Gary Sánchez. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"Yeah, that was started by Gary," LeMahieu said, with a smile. "That's his thing. It makes me laugh." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
That guy rakes," said Aaron Hicks, who cracked a three-run homer as part of a four-run second inning against Toronto starter Edwin Jackson. "He's a true hitter. He's a guy that hits in any location, pretty much all over the field. He's a great defender. He's been huge for us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu delivered a run scoring double in the second inning and an RBI single in the fourth. The knocks off Jackson improved LeMahieu's average to a Major League-best .491 (26-for-53) with runners in scoring position.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu's cool confidence in pressurized situations has earned him a nickname within the Yankees' clubhouse walls, as revealed after Thursday's game: "The Machine," bestowed upon LeMahieu by catcher Gary Sánchez. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"Yeah, that was started by Gary," LeMahieu said, with a smile. "That's his thing. It makes me laugh. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahie u-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu, who added a sixth-I”all. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"For me, it's about taking the same approach as I do during all my at-bats," LeMahieu said. "I don't usually hit for a ton of power, so I need to come through in situations to impact the game. It's not always like that. I'm just on a good roll." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
With Gregorius returning to the active roster on Friday -- infielder Thairo Estrada was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Thursday's game in a corresponding move -- Boone has outlined a rough plan to have Gregorius play shortstop two of three days, with Gleyber Torres shifting from second base to shortstop on the other day. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
That, plus any off-days for Torres, would give LeMahieu playing time at second base. He's also expected to play twice a week as Gio Urshela's understudy at third base, and could see time spelling Luke Voit at first base. Yet the way he is swinging the bat, no one would fault Boone for wanting to get LeMahieu to the plate as often as possible. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"He'll get his day here and there, but he's not coming out anytime soon," Boone said. "He'll get his day a week, which I think will be a good thing over the long haul and keeping him fresh, but DJ will be in there." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu said that no one has discussed what the next two weeks will look like for him. His plan, as it usually is, will be to come to the ballpark and look at the lineup card, then grab a glove. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
“I'm prepared to play multiple spots,” LeMahieu said. “We'll definitely be excited to have Didi back, that's for sure.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
As the Yankees pelted Jackson for six runs (two earned) and six hits in 3 1/3 innings, Urshela hit a solo homer to back Happ, who limited his twice-former club to Eric Sogard's sixth-inning homer in a 102-pitch effort. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"I had a lot of emotion tonight, so I was trying to be as methodical as I could, just move onto the next pitch," Happ said. "I've been trying to do that lately. Gary did a really nice job back there tonight setting up with his targets and calling a really good game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
Happ said that he can't help but marvel at LeMahieu, the envisioned super-sub who just might be too good to leave on the bench.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"He's been incredible," Happ said. "Never tries to do too much, takes what he's given and has been coming up with big hit after big hit. He's a guy we're definitely excited when he comes up." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
Unlike New York, Cleveland lost their previous game as they lost to Minnesota in the finale.
No one had higher expectations for Trevor Bauer entering the 2019 season than, well, Trevor Bauer. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
After cruising through a career year in 2018, Bauer was ready to come back better this season, and got off to a hot start in March and April, but things began to unravel when the calendar flipped to May. Although he felt confident he was starting to feel like himself again, Bauer, once again, didn’t see the results he would’ve liked in the Indians’ 5-4 loss to the Twins on Thursday night at Progressive Field.”according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
It just seems like anything that can go wrong will go wrong for me right now,” Bauer said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
Bauer has now picked up a loss in each of his last four outings, and hasn’t earned a win since April 30. It was the first time he’s given up three homers in a game since Aug. 14, 2017, against Boston. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
“I get gun-shy every time a ball goes in the air because it seems like everything that gets hit in the air is a homer,” Bauer said. “I feel like I need to strike more people out. I can’t get swing and miss even when I throw pitches in locations that should create swing and miss. It’s been frustrating for sure. I guess you just gotta assume it will start going in your favor at some point, because it sure hasn’t for me in the past month and a half.””according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
With Cleveland having used seven relievers in Wednesday’s bullpen day, Bauer gave his team the depth it needed, going eight full frames on 119 pitches, but allowed three long balls -- all to Max Kepler -- that put the Tribe in a hole they couldn’t crawl out of. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
You know, besides Kepler, [Bauer] was really good,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Just Kepler had one of those kinda career nights that kinda was our undoing. He hit a fastball, changeup, slider, all for home runs. Other than, Trev didn’t give up a whole lot of hits.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
Bauer’s night began on a sour note, as Kepler drove the second pitch of the game into the right-field seats. After two more homers from Kepler in the third and seventh, Bauer has now given up 13 bombs in 91 2/3 innings this season. In 175 1/3 frames in 2018, the hurler gave up just nine home runs.
“So that was three homers, two of them I felt like were pitches that were supposed to be in my favor,” Bauer said. “Clearly, they weren’t.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
His struggles over the past six weeks have raised the question of whether the 28-year-old is battling an injury. Although he denies being hurt any time it’s asked, he’s hinted at the fact that he’s not feeling his best, physically, multiple times. The last thing the Indians need is another hurt hurler after already having four starters on the injured list. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
“Right now, I’m just trying to feel good for my next start physically,” Bauer said. “My body is pretty banged up and that’s really where my focus has been, trying to get ready physically. I’ve executed really well the last three starts and I’ve lost all three of them, so for a while, I didn’t feel like I could execute because I didn’t feel like I could move the way I need to move. And now, I feel like more so the way I need to move and I execute well, but I still get beat. I’m giving everything I have for my team, but it’s been rough.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
And while he has not lived up to the expectations that were set heading into the year, no one will be harder on Trevor Bauer than, well, Trevor Bauer. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
“We had a tough last couple days as a team, as a family, with Carlos [Carrasco] and that news, so the bullpen stepped up yesterday and we got a good team win,” Bauer said. “We needed a strong performance tonight and I wanted to help those guys out a little bit, and try to pull us back closer in the playoff race, and it just didn’t go that way for me.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/trevor-bauer-struggles-in-finale-vs-twins
First pitch is set for 7:10pm from Progressive Field. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network, Yes , SportsTime Ohio and WKYC3.