DH spot a big zilch in series

CLEVELAND — Zero. That’s how many hits the Yankees have gotten out of their DH spot during the ALDS. Chase Headley is 0-for-10 with a walk and five strikeouts, while Jacoby Ellsbury is 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts. Matt Holliday, who has struggled since coming down with a viral infection but has had several big hits for his team in 2017, has yet to get an at-bat in the series.

Joe Girardi said Tuesday that DH is the only spot in the lineup that is up in the air for Game 5. The Bombers will once again be facing likely 2017 Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber, who they crushed for six runs in 2.2 innings during Game 2.

Asked about his decision-making process, Girardi responded: “You kind of look at the quality of at-bats that guys have had during the course of a season, a couple seasons off of Kluber, how they’re swinging now. You look Matt Holliday hasn’t played in eight days. That’s kind of difficult.

“So it’s just kind of trying to measure and trying to predict what type of stuff Kluber is going to have (Wednesday), which isn’t easy to do. If there’s one thing that’s weighing on my mind, that’s probably what I’m thinking about the most at this point because I know the other eight guys. I know who’s starting. I know my bullpen, really everyone is available. It’s that one spot.”

In terms of career stats, Ellsbury is 5-for-19 with two doubles against Kluber in the regular season while Headley is 1-for-14. Holliday was hit by a pitch in his only at-bat against Kluber. Ellsbury struck out in his only AB against Kluber in Game 2. at

RETURN OF EDWIN?

Asked if he thinks he’ll have cleanup man Edwin Encarnacion for Game 5, Indians manager Terry Francona responded: “I think so. He’s been hitting off the machine already. We’re going to have him run during the workout (Tuesday). He’s never exactly our biggest basestealing threat, but we want to use common sense.

"He’ll do some running during our workout and we’ll gauge where he is. But I think he’s going to be OK.”

Encarnacion (right ankle sprain) hasn’t played since he got hurt in Game 2.

He suffered what appeared to be a gruesome injury at the time, but if Encarnacion does play, it clearly wasn’t as bad as initially feared.

The Indians were shut out by the Yankees in Game 3 and scored just three runs in Game 4.