INSIDE THE MATCHUPS
CLEVELAND — Now that the Yankees have dispatched the hapless Twins, they’ll play in their first postseason series in five years beginning Thursday, when they face the Indians in Game 1 of the ALDS. Cleveland is coming off a history-making regular season in which it won 22 straight stretching from August into September, the longest streak in AL history. Both teams seem poised to make a lengthy postseason run. The Post’s Dan Martin breaks down how they match up:
AT THE PLATE
GETTING ON BASE: Minnesota learned again how formidable the Yankees’ lineup is these days, and it’s not just because of the power they displayed in Tuesday’s wild-card victory. They also showed excellent discipline at the plate, beginning in the bottom of the first, when five different hitters took Ervin Santana to full counts. The Yankees also scored in each of the first four innings. Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius are about as dangerous a 1-4 as any lineup in the playoffs. Cleveland has a potent offense, as well, finishing third in the AL in runs scored — right behind the Yankees. Jose Ramirez, Edwin Encarnacion and Carlos Santana not only hit for power, they also get on base at will. Ramirez, Santana and Francisco Lindor are switch hitters, making it even more difficult to deal with them. HITTING FOR POWER: Judge showed the spotlight was not too big for him in Tuesday’s win with a homer in the fourth inning, and he remains perhaps the most fearsome hitter in the game. The Yankees have home-run threats sprinkled up and down their order, as Gardner and Gregorius proved, and Sanchez remains a huge bat in the middle of the lineup. But if anyone can match the Yankees in that department, it’s two of the four teams still playing in the AL. Houston and Cleveland can both slug with anyone, but the Yankees have to get by the Indians first. Encarnacion had 38 homers, Lindor 33 and Ramirez 29. And the addition of Jay Bruce from the Mets added another power
bat ON THE BASEPATHS: The Yankees didn’t do much running on Tuesday, but Gardner is always a threat at the top of the lineup. Jacoby Ellsbury had a miserable wild-card game, going 0-for-4, but he also could be a factor. Cleveland lost some athleticism when both Michael Brantley and Bradley Zimmer went down with injuries. Brantley is expected to serve primarily as a pinch hitter.
IN THE FIELD
INFIELD DEFENSE: Perhaps the biggest defensive question for the Yankees got
off to a promising start Tuesday, as Sanchez handled himself well behind the plate. Gregorius is solid at shortstop, with Greg
Bird, Starlin Castro and Todd Frazier all serviceable around the infield. The Indians have had to move players around thanks to injuries and other factors, but in addition to Lindor’s good play at shortstop, Santana and Ramirez have been pleasant surprises at first and second, respectively. Giovanny Urshela (right) and
Yandy Diaz have split time at third. Urshela is the better defensive option. And Roberto Perez and Yan Gomes split time behind the plate. OUTFIELD DEFENSE: The Yankees opted to go with Aaron Hicks over Ellsbury in center in the wild-card game, and their best defensive outfield at this point seems to be Hicks in center, with Gardner in left and Judge in right. Where that leaves Ellsbury remains to be seen. Jason Kipnis moved to center when Zimmer got hurt. Kipnis spent part of the year at second base. Bruce is capable in right and Austin Jackson and Lonnie e
Chisenhall split time in left.
BENCH
Chase Headley (left), if he stays out of the starting lineup, provides a switch hitter off the bench and Matt Holliday a power bat — albeit one that has not produced in the second half. Tyler Wade, if he’s on the roster, would be the pinch runner. The Indians have the likes of Chisenhall and Urshela on the bench.
ON THE MOUND
ROTATION: The Indians are going with Trevor Bauer in Game 1, saving
Corey Kluber for Game 2 to set him up for a potential Game 5, with Carlos Carrasco in Game 3. Bauer beat the Yankees on Aug. 30. Kluber gave up three runs in 17 innings this season against the Yankees. BULLPEN: The Yankees added some valuable prospects in the Andrew Miller trade last season, but now they’ll get another close-up look at the lefty they gave up. Miller played a key role in how Terry Francona deployed his bullpen on the way to the World Series a year ago, but has dealt with a knee injury this time around. Closer Cody Allen has tossed 14 shutout innings in 11 postseason appearances. The Yankees’ bullpen almost singlehandedly got them into the ALDS, but the 8 2/3-inning workload will impact this series, with David Robertson, Chad
Green and Tommy Kahnle taxed coming in. So Joe Girardi most likely will have to go to the struggling
Dellin Betances at some point.
MANAGER
Girardi and Francona are two of the most accomplished managers in the league, both showing a willingness to innovate, both having had postseason success.
INTANGIBLES
The Indians actually have more pressure on them than the Yankees. Not only did they win 22 straight, they finished the year on a 33-4 tear. And they got to Game 7 of the World Series a year ago before they lost to the Cubs in 10 innings.