Fansided

Yankees have tough road ahead in MLB playoffs

By Rucker Haringey

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 04: Manger Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees looks inform the dugout before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 04: Manger Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees looks inform the dugout before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 14: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 14, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Cincinnati 8-1. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 14: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 14, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cleveland defeated Cincinnati 8-1. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

3. Cleveland Indians

This is the spot on the list where things start to get real tricky for the Yankees. Cleveland has the right balance of star power and depth to make a legitimate run at a World Series title.

On the mound, they’ll throw Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber at the top two spots on their rotation. Each of those guys is having a terrific season. It’s not an exaggeration to say that either player could win the AL Cy Young award this year if a few things break in their favor. Unless Luis Severino rediscovers his best stuff, the Yankees would enter games against either hurler as severe underdogs.

It’s not as if the Indians can’t hit. Their lineup is pretty loaded as well. Jose Ramirez might be the best player in baseball that doesn’t get talked about in the national media. He’s got a WAR of 7 this season on the strength of 36 home runs and 89 RBI. Ramirez is the type of hitter that can get locked in and carry his team all the way through a tough series.

The team also benefits from having Francisco Lindor at the top of the order. He gets plenty of national media attention, but he’s still an excellent player. He sets the table for Ramirez to drive him in most every night.

The only reason Cleveland falls behind the next two teams on this list is their lack of depth in the lineup. Things fall off pretty sharply after Ramirez and Lindor. That could give the Yankees’ pitching staff the ability to pitch around those stars in key moments. The Indians have enough talent to win the World Series this season, but they aren’t the AL favorites.

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