Indians at Marlins
Carlos Gonzalez is beginning to show that he could be a big addition, and the veteran outfielder looks to continue producing when the Cleveland Indians go for a sweep of their two-game interleague series at the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. Gonzalez had a pair of multi-hit games in the previous series and belted a go-ahead three-run homer Tuesday to help the Indians record a 7-4 victory.
Gonzalez, who spent the last 10 seasons with Colorado and needs one double to reach 300 for his career, was signed as a free agent in the offseason to add an experienced piece to a young outfield and is 5-for-15 with two homers and five RBIs in the last four games. Two-time American League Cy Young winner Corey Kluber goes after his third straight win when he takes the mound for Cleveland while the struggling Marlins counter with left-hander Caleb Smith, who has allowed opponents to bat just .167 in 29 innings of work. Miami suffered its fourth straight loss Tuesday and has given up 28 runs in the process while dropping to 5-12 at home. The Marlins sent outfielder Lewis Brinson (.197 batting average) - the centerpiece of their deal that sent Christian Yelich to Milwaukee - to Triple-A New Orleans on Tuesday and activated versatile Garrett Cooper, but 28-year-old was hit on the left hand with a pitch and is day-to-day after x-rays were deemed negative.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (2-2, 5.81 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Caleb Smith (2-0, 2.17)
Kluber has not been as dominant this season after recording a career-high 20 victories in 2018, but did win his past two decisions. The 33-year-old Alabama native has given up at least three runs in four of his six starts this season, including last time out at Houston when he allowed three in five innings of a no-decision. Kluber, who has struck out 35 in 31 total innings, faces Miami for the first time and is 15-7 with a 2.73 ERA in interleague play.
Smith has strung together four straight quality starts, including last Thursday when he limited Philadelphia to one run on three hits with eight strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision. The 27-year-old Texan surrendered just two total runs over his past three trips to the mound, fanning 22 and walking four during that stretch. Francisco Lindor homered in his only career at-bat versus Smith, who permitted three runs across 3 2/3 innings in his lone career outing against Cleveland in 2017 while with the New York Yankees.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami INF Miguel Rojas has hit safely in each of his last six games, knocking in two runs and walking twice.
2. Cleveland 1B Carlos Santana was 1-for-23 over a six-game stretch before going 4-for-9 with two homers the last two contests.
3. Marlins 3B Martin Prado went deep in the series at Cleveland last week and needs one to reach 100 in his career.