Indians at Marlins
The Cleveland Indians hope to take advantage of the major league-worst Miami Marlins when they visit the Sunshine State for the opener of a two-game interleague series Tuesday night. The Indians (15-12) split a pair against the Marlins at home last week before taking the first two of a series at Houston over the weekend, only to drop the final two including a 4-1 setback Sunday night.
Carlos Santana launched his 200th career home run for Cleveland’s only tally Sunday, recording his second hit in 27 at-bats across the past seven games, while teammate Jake Bauers extended his hitting streak to five games (6-for-17). Trevor Bauer goes after his fourth win of the season when he takes the mound for the Indians on Tuesday while Miami counters with fellow right-hander Sandy Alcantara, who is looking for his first victory since March 31. The Marlins (8-20) gave up 21 runs while losing the final three of a four-game series at Philadelphia on the weekend after winning four of their previous six contests. “Disappointing after the first game (of the series, a 3-1 win),” Miami manager Don Mattingly told reporters. “That’s pretty much the whole thing for me. You win Game 1 of a four-game set, you should be able to get a split out of that if you pitch well. … We gained some momentum and then fizzled after that.”
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FS Florida
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (3-1, 1.99 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (1-2, 4.50)
Bauer notched his fifth quality start in six outings Thursday, limiting Houston to one run on four hits over eight innings in a 2-1 victory. The 28-year-old UCLA product worked around six walks in that outing and has issued a total of 18 free passes over the past five starts with 36 strikeouts in that stretch. Miguel Rojas is 2-for-3 and Neil Walker has homered versus Bauer, who is 10-5 with a 2.54 ERA in 26 career interleague appearances (25 starts).
Alcantara has gone without a victory in his last four trips to the mound, but held Cleveland to two runs (one earned) over five innings in a no-decision Wednesday. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native gave up 13 runs across 15 innings combined in three starts before meeting Cleveland after opening the season with eight scoreless innings against Colorado. Jose Ramirez went 2-for-2 with a solo homer last week against Alcantara.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami C Jorge Alfaro is 6-for-14 with a homer and two RBIs in his last three contests after going 1-for-7 versus the Indians.
2. Cleveland manager Terry Francona needs one win to tie Eric Wedge (561) for fifth on the franchise’s all-time list
3. Miami OF-1B Garrett Cooper (calf) is closing in on a return to the lineup after missing a month.