Guardians/Yankees Series Preview

The first of three games between these two teams will take place in Cleveland on Monday, with the Guardians playing host to the Yankees. The last time both teams met, the Yankees vs. Guardians rivalry took a nasty turn with the infamous “Rock the Baby” episode. It began in the American Division League Series Game 4.

Pitching matchups: RHP Shane Bieber (0-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Domingo German (0-1, 7.71) at 6:10 p.m. on Monday; RHP Hunter Gaddis (0-0, 3.72) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (2-0, 0.73) at 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday; RHP Aaron Civale (1-1, 2.84) vs. RHP Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 9.45) at 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Series: Yankees won five of six regular season matchups last year and took three out of five to win the American League Division Series in October. New York leads the all-time regular season series, 1,115 to 877.

Yankees update: Infielder Gleyber Torres is hot, having reached base in 19 of 33 plate appearances entering play on Sunday. Torres leads the majors in on-base percentage (.576) and ranks highly in walks, steals, and OPS. Yankees starters tossed at least five innings and allowed one or zero runs in five of their first eight starts. They rank second in the majors in strikeouts and third in strikeout-to-walk ratio. Yankees batters homered in each of their first eight games for the fifth time in franchise history.

Guardians update: Cleveland salvaged the final game of its home opening series against Seattle with a walk-off win on Sunday behind three clutch RBI from rookie outfielder Will Brennan. Myles Straw extended his hitting streak to nine games and has reached base 20 times this season, ranking third in the majors. Jose Ramirez has a 15-game hitting streak, including a hit in each of Cleveland’s 10 games this season. Steven Kwan has 48 career multi-hit games, including five this year.

Injuries:

Yankees — RHP Jonathan Loaisiga (right elbow), 3B Josh Donaldson (right hamstring), OF Harrison Bader (left oblique), RHP Lou Trivino (right elbow), LHP Carlos Rodon (left elbow), RHP Luis Severino (right lat strain), C Ben Rortvedt (shoulder aneurysm), RHP Tommy Kahnle (right biceps tendinitis), RHP Frankie Montas (right shoulder), RHP Scott Effross (right elbow), RHP Luis Gil (right elbow) are on the injured list.

Guardians — RHP Triston McKenzie (right shoulder), LHP Sam Hentges (left shoulder), and RHP Cody Morris (right terres major) are on the injured list.