CLEVELAND — If Houston’s A.J. Hinch, the American League manager in next week’s All-Star Game, was mulling whom to select as his starting pitcher in the exhibition, a convenient showcase presented itself on Thursday night when two of the best in baseball were pitted against each other.
Luis Severino of the Yankees and Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians left Hinch with a compelling case — to pick Boston’s Chris Sale.
While the promise of an enthralling pitchers’ duel instead gave way to a pair of pedestrian performances, there was little grumbling from the Yankees, who bulled their way past the Indians for a 7-4 victory.