Everyone knew there would be a transition period for the New York Yankees as their big stars came back from serious injuries. But now the Yankees are facing the Indian's best pitcher tonight at Yankee Stadium while they are in the midst of a bad stretch of losing games.

It's quite simple to pinpoint reasons for the New York Yankees' recent struggles -- their lineup is failing to score runs and the pitching staff is having a difficult time preventing them.

Getting Andy Pettitte back could help solve one of those problems.

The 40-year-old comes off the disabled list to face the visiting Cleveland Indians as the Yankees look to avoid an eighth loss in nine games.

New York (31-25) is hitting .217 during its rough stretch and had only two hits in a rain-shortened 3-0 loss to Boston on Sunday that dropped it to 1-4 on its eight-game homestand.

"I think they were being pretty cautious with me as far as the DL, and it was probably good," Pettitte told the team's official website. "I was pretty locked up back there.

"I'm feeling good (now), and I'm looking forward to getting back out there. I just want to take my turn, get out there and do this grind with the guys."

Justin Masterson (8-3, 3.07), Cleveland's ace pitcher, bounced back from a loss to Boston on May 24 by giving up one run and striking out seven in six innings of Wednesday's 5-2 win over Cincinnati. He's 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA in his last four starts after posting a 5.91 ERA over his previous five.

"First of all, you have to have (good) stuff to (get out of jams), but he competes so well," manager Terry Francona said.

Masterson's current hot stretch began May 13 when he struck out nine in a four-hitter to beat the Yankees 1-0. The right-hander is 4-2 with a 2.08 ERA in seven career starts versus New York, but 0-2 with a 4.34 ERA in three in the Bronx.

The game can be watched on ESPN and WATCHESPN.