rs have converted just 32.1 per cent of their clear-cut chances this season, giving them the lowest success rate in the Premier Leag

NEW YORK -- The Cleveland Indians have held sole possession of first place in the American League Central for nearly two months.Suddenly, their lead does not seem as secure.The Indians look to maintain their advantage and possibly add to it Friday night when they open a three-game series with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.Cleveland has held a share of first place for the past 54 days and 63 days overall. The Indians took sole possession of the lead June 17 and won 21 of 29 games to take a 7 1/2-game lead on three occasions.The most recent instance was July 20, but since an 11-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals, the Indians have dropped six of 11 at the same time the Detroit Tigers went on their biggest run of the season.Cleveland is up by three games over Detroit after favorable results Thursday. The Indians averted a four-game sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Twins by scoring a 9-2 victory as Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez homered.That helps, because we got beat around the ballpark for the last three days, Indians manager Terry Francona said.At the same time as Cleveland getting its first lead in 27 innings, the Tigers had an eight-game winning streak snapped with a 6-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox.Even so, the Tigers are in striking distance with one-third of the season remaining.Theres no point in rushing, Lindor said. There are a lot of games left.The Yankees (54-54) have lost six of eight games since starting the second half with eight wins in their first 12 games. New York was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position Thursday during a 4-1 loss to the New York Mets, marking the 43rd time the Yankees scored two runs or fewer.The Yankees are at .500 for the 11th time in the past two months.I know with the trades and everything that has happened, the outlook is a little different, Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner said. But were going to play hard and grind every day. Were not giving up.Alex Rodriguez has not started in 10 of New Yorks past 11 games, and the Yankees are unsure when his next start will be.I cant really tell you when Im going to play him, manager Joe Girardi said.Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira sat out Thursday after getting hit in the left shin Wednesday by a pitch from Mets left-hander Steven Matz. He is day-to-day.Gary Sanchez has occupied the designated hitter spot the past two games, and the Yankees plan on playing him close to every day for the rest of the season as a DH or the catcher.Cleveland will start Josh Tomlin and, he will go for his team-leading 12th win, which would equal the career high he set during the 2011 season. Tomlin (11-3, 3.43 ERA) has split his last four starts, and he allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings Saturday during a 6-3 win over the Oakland As.Tomlin did not pitch when the Indians lost three of four to the Yankees three weeks ago. He is 3-2 with a 4.82 ERA in seven career appearances against the Yankees, including Aug. 20, 2015, when he allowed a run and two hits over seven innings in a 3-2 win at New York.That victory was Tomlins first after having shoulder surgery. Over 29 starts the past two years, he is 18-5 with a 3.28 ERA.Michael Pineda will start for the Yankees, looking to improve upon a 5-10 record and a 5.13 ERA. Pineda is 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break, and they have been typical of his inconsistency.In his two wins, Pineda has allowed one run and 10 hits with 16 strikeouts in 13 innings. In his two losses, Pineda has allowed 10 runs and 11 hits in 11 innings.Pineda has never faced the Indians.While the Yankees took three of four July 7-10 in Cleveland, the Indians have won five of their past seven games at Yankee Stadium.In the early-July series, Lindor was 7-for-19 (.368) with two home runs. Tyler Lydon Kings Jersey . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. DeMarcus Cousins Jersey . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Chris-Webber-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Harry Giles Jersey .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. Justin James Kings Jersey . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at .The Premier League title race heats up on Super Sunday as Arsenal face leaders Leicester City and Tottenham travel to Manchester City live on Sky Sports. The top-of-the-table clashes will provide more clues about who will be lifting the Premier League trophy in May.Here, we pick three reasons for each of the top four sides to cheer - and three causes for concern... 1st LEICESTER (53 pts)Reasons to cheer Riyad Mahrez scored his 14th goal of the season in Leicesters 3-1 win over Man City Leicester could lose every one of their remaining games and they would still have exceeded expectations. Winning the title would go down as one of the greatest achievements in football history, and history suggests Champions League qualification is almost assured. Only one team (Chelsea 1985/86) has finished outside of the top four when accumulating 53 or more points from 25 games.Leicester possess the Premier Leagues outstanding performers in Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, and their recent form suggests they have plenty more to offer. The duo have scored 32 of the Foxes 47 goals, with Vardys alone worth a league-high 18 points. Even Leicesters closest rivals have found the duo impossible to stop. Are Leicester the new Forest? Exploring the similarities between Claudio Ranieris Leicester and Brian Cloughs Nottingham Forest. While Spurs, Arsenal and City juggle cup and European campaigns with their Premier League commitments, Leicesters schedule is far kinder. Ranieris men have already been knocked out of the domestic cups, so they have no other distractions and get the luxury of a two-week break after Sundays clash with Arsenal. During that time, Spurs play three times and Arsenal and City play twice each.Causes for concern Claudio Ranieris Leicester side face a test of their mental strength Can they cope when the pressure is cranked up? Norwich in 1992/93 and Newcastle in 1995/96 show the precedent for title-challenging underdogs fading near the finish line, and Arsene Wenger has already started pressurising the Foxes. Now Im sure that everyone will take them very seriously, especially in the media, so they will be under pressure as well, he said after Leicesters 2-0 win over Liverpool.Leicester have already played seven of their 10 fixtures against the Premier Leagues top six, but they still face a daunting run-in. In their final three games of the campaign, the Foxes travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United before hosting Roberto Martinezs resurgent Everton and finishing the campaign away to champions Chelsea. It could be a decisive run of games. Arsenal to outfox them? Did Arsenals 5-2 win in September provide the template for beating Leicester? Leicester have only let in two goals in their last five Premier League games, but they have conceded more times (27) than any of their top four rivals. Its the same number as 10th-placed Watford and more than seventh-placed Southampton. Recent improvements have been encouraging, but could defensive frailties resurface?2nd TOTTENHAM (48 pts)Reasons to cheer Toby Alderweireld has impressed in the heart of Tottenhams defence In contrast to Leicester, Tottenham have the best defensive record in the Premier League. Spurs have conceded just 19 goals in 25 games, and they appear to be just as strong with Kevin Wimmer partnering Tony Alderweireld in place of the injured Jan Vertonghen.Over the course of the last 10 games, Spurs are the Premier Leagues in-form team. Mauricio Pochettinos side have taken 22 points from a possible 30 in that time, one more than Leicester and five more than Arsenal and City. As we enter the final months of the season, that momentum could be crucial. Rise of Pochettino We examine the rise of Mauricio Pochettino and how he is transforming Spurs. The term Spursy has been used to describe Tottenhams tendency to mess things up at critical moments in the past but they look far tougher under Pochettino, who has instilled a certain steeliness at White Hart Lane. I think we are different people now, the former Southampton manager said recently. We live in the present, and the group of players, the staff, the club, the president and the supporters believe we are strong and we can win every game. Causes for concern Tottenham do not have much competition for Harry Kane up front Spurs will be keeping their fingers crossed that Harry Kane avoids injury, but the lack of other options up front could be an issue. Heung-Min Son is their only other player to have played as a central striker, but the South Korean international is more comfortable on the flanks and has only scored two Premier League goals this season.Tottenhams high-intensity playing style has been extremely effective this season but can they sustain it? Premier League tracking data shows only Bournemouth have covered more ground and sprinted more times than Spurs. With the threat of fatigue, their small squad faces a test of stamina in the final months of the campaign. WATCH: Man City v Spurs 2010 We look back on Tottenhams famous trip to the Etihad Stadium in 2010. This is also unfamiliar territory for the club. It has been decades since Spurs challenged for the title let alone won it. They look stronger under Pochettino, but the lack of experieence could yet undermine their challenge.dddddddddddd.3rd ARSENAL (48 pts)Reasons to cheer Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil could play a key role in the title race for Arsenal The return of Alexis Sanchez boosts Arsenals chances. The Chile international missed two months due to injury, but there have been glimpses of his best form since he returned at the end of January. The former Barcelona man was the Gunners player of the season in 2014/15. Wenger will be hoping for more of the same in the final weeks of the campaign.Petr Cech gives Arsenal title-winning knowhow, something they have sorely lacked in recent years. The 33-year-old won four Premier League trophies in 10 seasons with Chelsea and remains one of the best goalkeepers around. He has already had a positive impact at the Emirates - could his influence get them over the line? The Sanchez factor Why Alexis Sanchez could hold the key to Arsenals title challenge. Mesut Ozil is in a league of his own in terms of creativity. The German is closing in on a Premier League assists record and he has created 100 chances in total - 23 more than any other Premier League player. He has also accounted for 22 clear-cut chances - eight more than anyone else. More of the same could give Arsenal the edge.Causes for concern Mathieu Flamini reacts after missing a chance for Arsenal against Chelsea Poor finishing has been a theme of Arsenals season, and the issue was clearer than ever in their recent 0-0 draw with Southampton, when they spurned a glut of opportunities. According to Opta, the Gunners have converted just 32.1 per cent of their clear-cut chances this season, giving them the lowest success rate in the Premier League. If they dont find some cutting edge, Ozils creativity will be wasted.The Gunners have some tough away trips coming up. They face Manchester United at Old Trafford and Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the next month, and further ahead they have tricky games at Everton, West Ham and Manchester City. Alan Smith questions whether Arsenal have the mental fight to end their wait for a title Cech or no Cech, there are still questions over Arsenals title-winning mentality. The Gunners have blown plenty of good opportunities to win it in recent seasons, and there are still lingering doubts over whether they can cope when the pressures on.4th MANCHESTER CITY (47 pts)Reasons to cheer Manuel Pellegrini led Manchester City to the Premier League title in 2013/14 Manchester City are the only top-four side to have won the title in the last decade and they know what it takes to go the distance. Manuel Pellegrinis side had to contend with fierce competition from Liverpool and Chelsea in 2013/14 and they came out on top. That experience could serve them well.Sergio Agueros injury problems have been a major issue for City this season, but he is fit and firing now and he could have a major say in the title race. A run of six goals in his last four Premier League games shows the Argentina international is at the peak of his powers.Vincent Kompany is also on his way back from injury. The skipper resumed training last week, and his comeback will give Pellegrini a major boost. Citys win percentage with Kompany is 77.8 per cent compared to just 43.8 per cent without him, and they kept seven clean sheets in nine games with him in the side compared to just four in 16 without him.Causes for concern Manchester City have lost three Premier League home games Announcing Pep Guardiolas appointment midway through the season always looked like a gamble, and the 3-1 defeat to Leicester suggests it may already distracting the squad.City have a dismal record against their top-six rivals this season. They have not won a single one of their seven games against the Foxes, Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham and Manchester United, and they still have a number of big games remaining.Citys home form is another major cause for concern. Pellegrinis side only lost two Premier League home games in his first two seasons in charge, but this year they have already been defeated by West Ham, Liverpool and Leicester. Visitors to the Etihad Stadium will take added belief from those results, knowing City are more vulnerable than in the past.Whos got the upper hand in the title race? Leave your comments below if youre reading online or tweet us @SkyFootball... Get a Sky Sports Day Pass Watch Super Sunday all day for ￡6.99 on NOW TV. No contract required Also See: Key battle: Koscielny v Vardy Rise of Pochettino Are Leicester the new Forest? Who has the best midfield? ' ' '