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Indians hope to win series behind Laffey

Apr 28, 2008 - 1:35 PM NY Yankees (13-13) at Cleveland (12-13) 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - With Jake Westbrook now on the disabled list with a left intercostal strain, Aaron Laffey may be auditioning for a long stint in the rotation.

Laffey will take the mound Monday when the Indians host the New York Yankees in the finale of a four-game series.

Jeremy Sowers took his turn on Saturday, coming up from Class AAA Buffalo and tossing 5 1/3 innings while not factoring in the decision in Cleveland's 4-3 win. Laffey (NR) may have to best that effort Monday if he hopes to take Westbrook's spot.

The 23-year-old lefthander acquitted himself well in a call-up last season, posting a 4-2 record with a 4.56 ERA in nine starts. Laffey is part of a trio of young Indians pitchers including Sowers and Adam Miller that will be pushing for major league time all summer.

Laffey is 3-1 with a 2.77 ERA in five starts for Buffalo this season.

After taking the first two games of the series on Friday and Saturday, Cleveland's bats fell silent on Sunday, managing just four hits against Chien-Ming Wang as the Yankees went on to win, 1-0.

New York will counter righthander Mike Mussina (2-3, 4.94 ERA), who is coming off his best outing of the season. The veteran righthander allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings Wednesday at Chicago to earn the win.

Mussina is 11-9 with a 4.78 ERA in 25 career starts against Cleveland.