New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians Predictions, Picks and MLB Preview – July 8, 2016

Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland

When: Friday, July 8, 7:10 PM ET

Line: New York Yankees (+165) at Cleveland Indians (-185); total: 8.0 – view all MLB lines

TV Broadcast: YES, SportsTime Ohio

Writer’s Pick: Cleveland

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Pitching Edge – Cleveland Indians (-185)

Pitching for the Indians in the second game of this four-game set is Corey Kluber (8-8, 3.79 ERA). He struggled mightily in his last start, against the Toronto Blue Jays, coughing up five runs on seven hits and four walks in just 3.1 innings of action. It was Kluber’s shortest outing since May 9 in Houston, where he surrendered five runs in just 2.2 innings. Kluber’s performance was quite a shock considering he went 4-1 in the month of June with an impressive 2.19 ERA.

Meanwhile, the Bronx Bombers will counter with Chad Green (1-1, 4.09 ERA). The 25-year-old earned another Major League start after holding the San Diego Padres to a single run on three hits over six innings Sunday. Green walked none and struck out eight batters in that game, prompting the 27-time world champions to bump Nathan Eovaldi to the pen.

Batting Edge – Cleveland Indians (-185)

The Cleveland Indians may have lost 5-4 to the New York Yankees in the series opener, but they still hold the edge in the batting department for tonight’s ballgame. The Indians are 11th in the majors in runs scored (409) this season and 10th in slugging percentage (.433). They will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing the inexperienced Chad Green who will be making just his first start against an American League team tonight.

Compare that to the offensively challenged Yankees who have scored just 346 runs this season, seventh-lowest in the entire majors. To make matters worse for the Yankees, they will face Cleveland’s ace Corey Kluber tonight. The Yanks’ leading hitter, Carlos Beltran, is hitless in six career at-bats against Kluber. First baseman Mark Teixeira has struggled against the Indians right-hander as well, going 0-for-3 lifetime against Kluber.

Writer’s Prediction: The Indians (-185) overpower the Yankees, 6-1.