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Corey Kluber has more than just a poker face.
His entire 2021 season, what there is, is quite an enigma.
Is the Klubot moving on to something bigger? Or was Friday night as good as it gets for the Yankees’ expensive bet?
The good news for those who like their mysteries to be solved is this: we will have a definitive answer shortly.
The two-time AHL Cy Young award winner on Friday did his best since returning from the injured list, throwing six clean innings against his longtime employers, the Indians, to lead the Yankees to an 8- victory. 0 at Yankee Stadium. . It was the Bronx Bombers’ fifth victory in seven tries.
“He looked like he did when he threw his hit against us in Texas,” said Joey Gallo, who was on the wrong side of Kluber’s historic gem on May 19 against the Rangers and dug two times for the Yankees on Friday. “Not knowing what he’s going to throw in all the counts, the bullets moving all over the place. … It’s always great to see him pitch like that.
Kluber’s first win since their May 19 draw in Arlington, Texas, brought the Yankees (83-65) back in the playoff table, a half game ahead of the Blue Jays (82-65) and a half. -match behind the triumphant Red Sox (84-65) in the AL wild-card race. All three teams are even in the losing column. Kluber’s night continued on a similar pattern to the one the right-hander showcased at the start of the season, when he slowly built up his arm strength to become a quality starting pitcher, albeit against disappointing opponents.
“I think I’ve definitely had stretches before where it takes me a little while to get into a groove and then when I get to that point I’m usually able to do it pretty well,” Kluber said. .
In April, it took Kluber, who had missed most of the previous two seasons with injury, five starts to pitch the five innings needed to qualify for a W. This time, after being sidelined for more than three months. with a strained right shoulder strain, he got there in four starts.
Cleveland only had four hits and two walks in Kluber’s six frames, as the 35-year-old struck out four and led all pitchers with 15 puffs, finding success with his fastpitch, its change and its cutter, among other offers. The veteran’s effort provided the perfect balm following Thursday night’s painful 3-2 loss in 10 innings to the dismal Baltimore Orioles.
“It looked like things were moving everywhere, that’s what he’s famous for, right?” said director Aaron Boone. “… I hope this is another step in his progression towards the backtracking.” “
The follow-up question might be: what constitutes all the way back? The breathless Indians fell to tie with the Yankees as the AL’s ninth-best offense, averaging 4.36 points per game. Kluber’s five-plus five-innings in a row from April 27 to the no-hitting streak, a streak largely responsible for the solid 3.68 ERA he sports, have come against these clubs: the Orioles, the Tigers, Nationals, Orioles and, as mentioned, Rangers. Of that group, only the Nats rank above their league average in points scored per game, and that would be the National League.
While against the dangerous Blue Jays, whom he faces in Toronto in the September 28-30 series, Kluber has a 4.91 ERA in three starts. And in an April start against the Rays, Kluber was knocked out for five runs in 2 ¹ / ₃ of innings.
You dismiss someone like Kluber, with their resume and reputation, at your own peril. You know no moment will be too big for a guy with World Series experience.
“When you have the kind of things he needs to get going he’s able to control his low speed stuff and get ahead of hitters and really attack the zone like he did tonight,” it makes it really tough for the roster, ”said Brett Gardner, who slammed a three-run homerun and then reminded his teammates after the game of the importance of going through that period one game at a time.
I can’t wait to see how Kluber fares in the face of tougher competition. For Kluber to show his (right) hand.
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