YANKEES-INDIANS PLAYOFF SERIES CAPSULE

A look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians:

Schedule: Game 1, Thursday, at Cleveland, 7:38 p.m. (FS1); Game 2, Friday, at Cleveland, 5:08 p.m. (MLB); Game 3, Sunday, at New York, 7:38 p.m. (FS1); x-Game 4, Monday, Oct. 9, at New York, TBA (FS1); x-Game 5, Wednesday, Oct. 11, at Cleveland, TBA (FS1).

x-if necessary. Season Series: Indians won 5-2. Projected Lineups:

Yankees: LF Brett Gardner (.264, 21 HRs, 63 RBIs, 96 runs, 23 SBs), RF Aaron Judge (.284, AL-leading 52, 114), C Gary Sanchez (.278, 33, 90 in 122 games), SS Didi Gregorius (.287, 25, 87), 2B Starlin Castro (.300, 16, 63 in 112 games), DH Chase Headley (.273, 12, 61) or Matt Holliday (.231, 19, 64 in 105 games), 1B Greg Bird (.190, 9, 28 in 48 games), CF Aaron Hicks (.266, 15, 52 in 88 games) or Jacoby Ellsbury (.264, 7, 39, 22 SBs in 112 games), 3B Todd Frazier (.213, 27, 76 with White Sox and Yankees).

Indians: SS Francisco Lindor (.273, 33, 89, 44 doubles, 15 SBs), CF Jason Kipnis (.232, 12, 35, only 90 games due to injury), 2B Jose Ramirez (.318, 29, 83, MLB-best 59 doubles, 91 extra-base hits), DH Edwin Encarnacion (.258, 38, 107, 104 BBs, 133 Ks), RF Jay Bruce (.254, 36, 101 with Mets and Indians), 1B Carlos Santana (.259, 23, 79, 88 BBs), 3B Giovanny Urshela (.224, 1, 15 in 67 games), LF Austin Jackson (.318, 7, 35 in 85 games), C Roberto Perez (.207, 8, 38 in 78 games) or Yan Gomes (.232, 14, 56 in 105 games). Starting Pitchers: Yankees: RH Sonny Gray (10-12, 3.55 ERA with Athletics and Yankees), LH CC Sabathia (14-5, 3.69), RH Masahiro Tanaka (13-12, 4.74, 194 Ks), RH Luis Severino (14-8, 2.98, 230 Ks in 193 1/3 IP).

Indians: RH Trevor Bauer (17-9, 4.19; 10-1, 2.60 since July 21), RH Corey Kluber (18-4, 2.25, 265 Ks, 5 CGs), RH Carlos Carrasco (18-6, 3.29, 226 Ks), RH Josh Tomlin (10-9, 4.98). Relievers: Yankees: LH Aroldis Chapman (4-3, 3.22, 22/27 saves in 52 games, 69 Ks in 50 1/3 IP), RH Dellin Betances (3-6, 2.87, 10/13 saves in 66 games, 100 Ks in 50 2/3 IP), RH David Robertson (9-2, 1.48, 14/16 saves in 61 games with Yankees and White Sox), RH Chad Green (5-0, 1.83, 103 Ks in 69 IP), RH Tommy Kahnle (2-4, 2.59, 96 Ks in 62 2/3 IP with Yankees and White Sox), RH Adam Warren (3-2, 2.35 in 44 games), LH Chasen Shreve (4-1, 3.77 in 44 games), LH Jordan Montgomery (9-7, 3.88 in 29 starts) or LH Jaime Garcia (5-10, 4.41 in 27 starts for Braves, Twins and Yankees).

Indians: RH Cody Allen (3-7, 2.94, 30/34 saves), RH Bryan Shaw (4-6, 3.52 in 79 games), LH Andrew Miller (4-3, 1.44, 95 Ks in 62 2/3 IP), RH Joe Smith (3-0, 3.33 in 59 games), LH Tyler Olson (1-0, 0.00 in 30 games), RH Mike Clevinger (12-6, 3.11 in 21 starts).

Matchups:

Rivals in the 1940s and 50s, the Yankees and Indians meet for the fourth time in the postseason and first since 2007 when Cleveland won a best-of-five Division Series in four games. Cleveland also beat New York in a 1997 Division Series. New York won the 1998 AL Championship Series. … The teams split four games at Progressive Field this season and the Indians swept a three-game set in the Bronx in August — wins 5-7 on their 22game winning streak. … Indians manager Terry Francona is very familiar with the Yankees after spending so much time with the rival Boston Red Sox. … Series matches two of baseball's deepest, most versatile bullpens. … Dating back to 2014, the Indians have won nine of 13 at Yankee Stadium. … Against New York this season, Bauer went 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA and Kluber was 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA. Kluber is 5-1 with a 1.80 ERA in seven career starts against Yankees. … Indians hit 10 homers against Yankees, with Lindor, Ramirez and Santana belting two apiece. … All-Star OF Michael Brantley, who made Cleveland's postseason roster despite missing 50 games after Aug. 8 with an ankle ligament injury, batted .357 (5 for 14) with a homer and two RBIs against New York this season. … Lindor batted .259 and struck out nine times. … Miller was on the disabled list and did not pitch against the Yankees this season. Cleveland acquired him at the 2016 trade deadline from the Yankees for four players, including outfielder Clint Frazier. … New York went 51-30 at home, best in the AL, while the Indians were 49-32 at home and 53-28 on road.

Watch For:

Setup Scenario. A four-time All-Star, Betances struggled with his mechanics and control down the stretch, leading Girardi to have a quick hook in the late innings. The 6-foot-8 righty walked seven over his final 9 2/3 innings and finished with 44 walks, up from 28 last year. He didn't pitch in the wildcard win, but the Yankees probably will need Betances to deliver at some point against Cleveland.

Center Stage. Kipnis came up as an outfielder before becoming a two-time All-Star second baseman. When rookie Bradley Zimmer broke his hand, and with Brantley and Brandon Guyer slowed by injuries, Francona gave Kipnis a chance in the outfield and he has held his own in center. Runners will test his right arm (he started the year on the DL with a shoulder issue), but Kipnis tracks the ball well and is athletic enough to make plays in the gaps. Still, everything hit toward him will leave Cleveland fans holding their breath.