Masahiro Tanaka To Start As New York Looks To Bounce Back Against Cleveland

The last time Masahiro Tanaka was on the mound for New York it was in the finale in Toronto on Sunday.

In that outing Tanaka scattered three hits over eight-plus innings before Aroldis Chapman engaged in an epic 13-pitch battle with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., nailing down the save as the Yankees snapped their two-game slide with a 1-0 victory over the Blue Jays on Sunday at Rogers Centre. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-shuts-down-blue-jays

On Friday night the Japanese right -hander will return to the mound in the Bronx where he will look to help his team not only bounce back but forget the outcome of the opening game against Cleveland and try to even up the series while Cleveland will look to get yet another win in the series and take the lead in the series.

New York who is leading the American League East comes into game two of the four game series with a record of 81-42 while Cleveland who is in second place in the American League Central comes into game two of the four game series with a record of 73-49. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

As stated above,

Masahiro Tanaka will start for New York. The Japanese right -hander comes into the game with a record of 8-6 with a 4.64 earn run average. Tanaka is coming off one of his best outings of the season, in which he limited the Blue Jays to three hits over eight scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory at Toronto. Tanaka walked none and struck out four in the gem. He will oppose Cleveland right -hander Aaron Civale who comes into the game with a record of 1-1 with an earn run average of 1.00. Civale impressed in Minnesota, holding baseball's most powerful lineup to one run on four hits while recording five strikeouts over six innings. The Indians pulled him to be mindful of his shoulder that caused a short injured list stint in Triple-A last month. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for the opening game between New York and Cleveland,

The strategy of using an opener has been successful so far this season for New York who is a member of the American League East but in the opening game of the four game series against Cleveland in the Bronx the strategy didn’t work out as planned.

Chad Green has been stellar in his newfound role, but the right-hander had no answers for the Indians, who batted around for seven first-inning runs in a 19-5 drubbing at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

"I put our bullpen in a bad situation all night," Green said. "I put our offense behind the eight ball from the get-go." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

Jose Ramirez slugged a grand slam and Jason Kipnis belted a solo homer off Green, who recorded only one out. Green had held opponents to three earned runs in 15 innings (1.80 ERA) as an opener prior to Thursday, with the team going 10-1 in those contests. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

"He certainly missed some spots," manager Aaron Boone said. "Against a good fastball-hitting team, locating -- even when you have great stuff -- is important." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

Jonathan Loaisiga permitted four runs in 2 2/3 innings, including a two-run homer to Ramirez, who equaled his career high by collecting six RBIs through two frames. Carlos Santana also slugged a two-run blast off Loaisiga as Cleveland snapped New York's five-game winning streak. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

Didi Gregorius and Gary Sanchez homered off Indians starter Adam Plutko, who held the Yanks to three runs over six innings. Gleyber Torres hit an eighth-inning homer off Phil Maton as the clubs combined for 10 homers, the most ever hit in a Yankees home game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

Summer swoon
Aaron Judge was on the field for early batting practice, facing a high-velocity pitching machine as he continues to search for a way out of a slump that has extended into a third week. The workout did not yield immediate results, as Judge went hitless in five at-bats, striking out four times. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

"I very rarely get one over the middle, and when I do, I have to make sure I do damage on it," Judge said. "When your mechanics or timing is a little off, it makes it a tough battle. I have to just keep grinding. It sucks right now, but we'll get through it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

In 21 games since July 25, Judge is batting .148 (12-for-81) with one homer, four RBIs, 12 walks and 31 strikeouts. The Yankees maintain that Judge's slump is not related to his previous oblique strain or any other injury concerns. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

"The game is hard," Boone said. "Over the course of a season, it gets the greatest players, which certainly [Judge] is. I am confident he will grind his way through it and hopefully soon." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

Judge did offer his team a scare in the sixth inning when he bent his left wrist back while diving for Kipnis' double. Judge received attention from head athletic trainer Steve Donohue but finished the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

"I had a lot of concern about it," Boone said. "We determined he was sound and good. I was thinking about getting him out of there with the score anyway, and felt like it was not an issue moving forward." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

Built Ford tough
Mike Ford had his right arm wrapped in ice after mopping up the final six outs of the lopsided contest, joking that he expected it to be sore in the morning. He had not appeared on the mound since his final season at Princeton University, when Ford was named both the Ivy League's Pitcher and Player of the Year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

Ford's ERA that season was 0.98, but his mid-80s fastball is plenty appetizing to big league hitters. Greg Allen and Carlos Santana homered off Ford in a five-run eighth inning, and the designated hitter-turned-pitcher sported a 22.50 ERA by evening's end. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

"The hitters are good," Ford said, with a laugh. "I haven't [pitched] since I was in pro ball, so it's been a long time. I was just trying have fun with it. ... I'm just out there trying to have a good time at that point, and obviously get outs as quick as I can for everyone." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

Ford achieved better results in his second inning, changing speeds effectively as he set the Indians down in order. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/chad-green-yankees-struggle-vs-indians

Meanwhile,

Cleveland who is a member of the American League Central was on the other end of the spectrum in the opening game of the four game series in the Bronx.

Statements aren't made in August. If they were, Thursday night would have been an impressive one for the Indians. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

Cleveland bashed its way to a 19-5 thrashing of the Yankees in the Bronx, opening the four-game series with a season-high seven home runs. Five Indians players went deep, seven had at least one RBI, while all nine members of the Tribe's starting lineup produced a multi-hit effort, only the second time in franchise history that's happened. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

The other time? That would be 113 years ago. Talk about a statement. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

"I don't think I believe in those types of things," manager Terry Francona said. "You make a statement tonight, they might make one tomorrow. I just believe in trying to show up and see if we can win." “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

Seven runs in the first inning certainly helped the Indians' cause, four of them coming on one big swing by José Ramírez, who launched the first grand slam of his career. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

"This is the type of game that you remember," Ramirez said through an interpreter. "You know who they are and you know what they're going to do down the road. ... They're a competitive team, and it gives you a good feeling when you get that type of result like today." “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

It was the first of two homers on the night for Ramirez, who had his 11th career multi-homer game and tied a personal best with six RBIs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

"When he gets hot, he's something incredible to watch," said Greg Allen, who scored four runs and hit a three-run homer off Mike Ford, who started the game as the Yankees' DH before coming in to pitch the final two innings of the blowout. "We've all been fortunate to be around it this past few years, just watching him go on these tears, it's impressive. Having a guy like that in the middle of your lineup, we can really lean on him, especially down the stretch." “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

As Ramirez goes, so goes the Indians' offense. Cleveland is 38-5 this season when he drives in at least one run, so it should be no surprise that the Tribe is 29-11 since June 30, as Ramirez is hitting .308 with 14 home runs, 43 RBIs and an OPS north of 1.000 during that stretch. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

"It's been fun; it's been needed," Jason Kipnis said. "When he was in his slump, we always supported him and pushed him to keep going, because we know that player is in there. We've seen it before with his close-to-MVP seasons. The fact that he's figured it out has probably been the biggest boost to date for us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

Ramirez's early-season slump was more like a half-season. He was hitting .216 with five homers, 30 RBIs and a .638 OPS before June 30, as the team struggled to keep itself above .500 for most of that time. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

Did any of Ramirez's teammates worry that the hot streak would never come? “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

"He sucked the first two months; tons of doubt," Kipnis said, flashing a slight grin. "You keep pushing him, keep hoping that he figures it out because we know that when he gets on a tear, it's one of the crazier things in the league to watch. He just becomes one of the better all-around hitters and players in the game." “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

Ramirez homered in each of his first two at-bats Thursday, but that was par for the course on this night. Carlos Santana also hit a pair of home runs, while Kipnis, Roberto Perez and Allen also homered. The Indians had hit five home runs in a game once before Thursday, but after matching that output through the first four innings, they set a new season-high in the eighth when Allen and Santana went deep against Ford, who had served as the Yankees' equivalent of a white flag. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

"I hope we didn't waste all of them in the first game," Kipnis said. "I wish we had held on to some of them. It's nice; we have guys who haven't played here before, so it makes it a little easier on them to relax because sometimes this can be a little bit of an imposing venue." “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

There was seemingly nothing imposing about Yankee Stadium for the Indians on Thursday night, as they scored in six of the nine innings, never letting up while Adam Plutko held New York's lineup to three runs over six innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

"Especially against this lineup, we were thrilled we got the runs early, but you're looking at their lineup thinking, 'Let's keep going,'" Francona said. "You don't have very many nights like tonight, but you'll certainly take them." “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/jose-ramirez-multi-homer-game-vs-yankees

First pitch is set for 7:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on Yes, SportsTimeOhio and Major League Baseball Network.