The New York Yankees return to the Bronx on Wednesday as they face the Cleveland Guardians in a pivotal three-game series.
In the opening game, the Yankees squandered an early 2-0 lead when Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back solo home runs. The Yankees ultimately lost 9-5 in extra innings, surrendering six runs in the top of the 12th inning.
Things took a turn for the worse when Luis Gil, the team’s most reliable pitcher this season, exited the game in the fourth inning due to lower back tightness. He was officially placed on the 15-day injured list with a lower back strain, as announced on Wednesday afternoon.
This news follows a mixed six-game road trip last week, where the Yankees went 3-3 against the struggling Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers. Notably, Clay Holmes suffered his MLB-leading 10th blown save in a 3-2 loss in 10 innings to the Tigers during the Little League World Series Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The Guardians have had a tough second half of the season, currently standing one game under .500 (14-15) since the All-Star break and suffering two sweeps in August, the latest against the Brewers.
The Yankees previously faced the Guardians earlier this season, winning two out of three games in Cleveland in early April, with both teams having close contests.
As the series continues in the Bronx, here are the upcoming pitching matchups:
– Tuesday, 7:05 p.m., YES: RHP Luis Gil (12-6, 3.25 ERA) vs. Matthew Boyd (0-0, 1.69 ERA)
– Wednesday, 7:05 p.m., Prime Video: Nestor Cortes (6-10, 4.20 ERA) vs. Joey Cantillo (0-2, 6.23 ERA)
– Thursday, 1:05 p.m., YES: Gerrit Cole (4-2, 4.15 ERA) vs. Gavin Williams (2-5, 5.02 ERA)
In particular, Nestor Cortes will be looking to build on his strong performance where he recorded nine strikeouts and no runs allowed in seven innings during a 4-1 win over the White Sox on August 13. However, he struggled in his first matchup against the Guardians, giving up four runs in four innings.
For the Guardians, Joey Cantillo, who made his MLB debut on July 28, will be on the mound. The 24-year-old has faced challenges, yielding nine runs in his three appearances thus far.
In the series finale, Gerrit Cole will pitch for the Yankees. Since returning from an elbow injury, Cole has steadily improved and recently secured a win after going six shutout innings against the Tigers. He has dominated the Guardians historically, boasting a 6-2 record against them.
Gavin Williams, the Guardians’ pitcher, is also returning from an elbow injury and has struggled lately, posting a high ERA in his recent starts. Williams has yet to face the Yankees early in his career, which spans only two seasons in the majors. While he has had more success on the road compared to his home games, he still has immense potential.
The series promises to be pivotal for both teams as they navigate the final stretch of the season.