Mariners at Indians
Corey Kluber looks to win his fourth consecutive start when the Cleveland Indians host the Seattle Mariners on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has allowed just 22 hits while striking out 37 in 36 2/3 innings this season.
Kluber, who lost 2-1 to the Mariners on Opening Day, looks to get the Indians back on the winning side of the ledger after they dropped the series opener 5-4. The Mariners have won three straight and are an impressive 5-2 during their 10-game road trip. Kyle Seager delivered the tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning of the opener as part of his 3-for-4 effort. Yonder Alonso belted a two-run homer for the Indians and ranks second on the club with six blasts to go with a team-leading 15 RBIs.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (0-1, 9.64 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (3-1, 1.96)
Ramirez is making his second start after opening the season on the disabled list due to a strained lat. The 27-year-old was roughed up by Texas on Sunday, when he gave up five runs and five hits - two homers - over 4 2/3 innings. Ramirez is 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA in seven career appearances (four starts) against the Indians and has been torched by Alonso (6-for-9) and Jason Kipnis (5-for-12, two homers).
Kluber gave up a season-worst three runs while defeating Baltimore in his last turn as he allowed six hits and didn't walk a batter in seven innings. The 32-year-old ranks fifth in franchise history with 1,238 strikeouts - 27 behind CC Sabathia for fourth. Kluber served up a first-inning, two-run homer to Nelson Cruz while losing the season opener to the Mariners as he allowed six hits over eight frames to drop to 3-2 with a 1.66 ERA in five career outings against Seattle.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland's Andrew Miller (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day disabled list, Jeff Beliveau was recalled from Triple-A Columbus and fellow LHP Jack Leathersich was designated for assignment.
2. Seattle 1B Ryon Healy (ankle) was activated prior to the series opener and went 1-for-4, while 1B-DH Dan Vogelbach was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma.
3. Mariners RF Mitch Haniger, who is hitless in seven at-bats over his last two games, went 3-for-3 versus Kluber on Opening Day and is 5-for-7 overall against him.