Game 106 Open Thread: Yankees @ Indians

As a kid growing up last century in the suburbs of Cleveland, the Yankees were the team I loved to hate. Now, I realize many fans outside of New York also hate the Yankees, especially because of the Steinbrenners’ penchant for buying championships over the years by being able to afford a wealth of talent. And that talent came from all over the rest of Major League Baseball.

But what I really resented was when it seemed like the Cleveland Indians in particular were the farm team for the Yankees back in the ‘70s. Two players that still stick in my craw are third baseman Craig Nettles and first baseman Chris Chambliss. Both were on the Indians as they developed into stud players, then both got bought by the Yankees. Both won Gold Gloves for their positions with the Yanks in 1978. Both were contributors to yet two more Yankees’ World Series Championships in 1977-78.

The bad taste and rivalry continues today. For Thursday’s game – the first of a four-game series in Cleveland – the starting pitching match-up is a doozy.

Case in point for the Yankees’ “buy ‘em” strategy, newly acquired Sonny Gray takes the mound for New York. Even though pitching for the last place Oakland A’s until now, Gray still has a 6-5 record and a very respectable 3.43 ERA.

The Tribe counters with their ace, Corey Kluber, who has been the most consistent performer in a wildly inconsistent starting rotation. Kluber (8-3, 2.90 ERA and an eye-popping 161 K) got roughed up a bit more than usual in his last start against the White Sox, surrendering 4 runs on 9 hits in only 6.1 innings. However, even with that game included, Kluber has notched a 1.86 ERA and 120 K since June 1.

Even more is at stake in this series as each team is battling to win their division. The Tribe currently leads the AL Central by 2.5 games and the Yanks trail Boston by only 1 game in the AL East.

Here are Thursday’s starting line-ups: