MLB Predictions: Yankees vs Indians Lines
The Cleveland Indians host the New York Yankees on Wednesday in the third game of a four-game set at Progressive Field.
New York Yankees (45-44) at Cleveland Indians (44-45)
Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Venue: Progressive Field
City: Cleveland, Ohio
O/U Odds: 8.5
Money Line: Cleveland -115, New York Yankees -105
Pitching Matchup: RH Brandon McCarthy (3-10, 5.01 ERA) at RH Josh Tomlin (5-6, 4.11 ERA)
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The Indians look to rack up wins as they try to keep pace in the A.L. Central division, while the Yankees have enjoyed their current road trip, losing five in a row at home before heading out and winning four of five to begin the trip.
The Yankees will send out newly acquired Brandon McCarthy in this contest. McCarthy comes over from the Arizona Diamondbacks after being acquired in a trade for southpaw Videl Nuno.
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McCarthy’s numbers weren’t great playing for a bad Diamondbacks team, though his ERA is a little inflated due to some bad luck. The veteran left Arizona coming off a pair of solid outings.
McCarthy struck out seven without surrendering a walk over seven innings of work in a win over the San Diego Padres, allowing one run on six hits. In his next start, which would be his final one with Arizona, he allowed two runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out six and walking two.
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The Indians counter with Josh Tomlin. Tomlin probably deserves a better fate than his base numbers indicate, but he also hasn’t pitched that well of late, losing four of his last five decisions.
Tomlin put together his best outing of the year in his final start in June, one-hitting the Seattle Mariners in a complete-game shutout, striking out 11. However, that gem breaks up a stretch of four starts in which he’s thrown three stinkers. In those other three starts, Tomlin surrendered five earned runs each time, plus an additional four unearned run, failing to get out of the sixth inning each time.
Wins have been few and far between for Brandon McCarthy since he joined the Diamondbacks. In his last 31 starts with the team, the Diamondbacks went 3-22 when not facing the Padres. Now, within a winning environment, expect McCarthy to turn things around and begin his tenure with the new team on the right foot.
Additionally, neither starting pitcher instills much confidence, and both sides have the pop to do some damage in this one. The Indians’ offense has turned a corner and is beginning to drive the ball, while the Yankees are finally getting a return on their investment into Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann.
The Indians are 1-4 in Tomlin’s last five starts, while the Yankees are 7-2 in their last nine games played on a Wednesday.
The over is 5-0 in Tomlin’s last five home starts, and the over is 5-2-1 in the Yankees’ last eight games when playing the third game of a series.
The play: New York -105, Over 8.5
