Indians at Athletics
The Oakland Athletics continue their six-game homestand versus the state of Ohio on Friday when they welcome the Cleveland Indians for the first of three contests. Oakland (17-22) settled for a series victory over Cincinnati after Thursday's 3-0 loss while Cleveland (20-16) completed a 4-3 homestand with a 5-0 win over the Chicago White Sox in a game shortened to five innings because of rain.
Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez has reached base in 18 straight games - the longest active streak in the American League and one behind Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs for the longest in baseball - after singling Thursday to raise his average to .206. Cleveland hopes to continue getting production from outfielder Jordan Luplow, who belted his first two home runs of the season and is 6-for-18 since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus as he tries to earn a permanent spot with the big club. Oakland designated hitter Khris Davis (club highs of 10 home runs and 26 RBIs) did not play Thursday and had only two plate appearances in the Cincinnati series because of a hip injury suffered while playing left field in Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Athletics' Frankie Montas takes the ball Friday after allowing three or fewer earned runs in all seven turns this season and opposes Cody Anderson, who struggled in his first start of 2019.
TV: 9:37 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Cody Anderson (0-1, 11.12 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Frankie Montas (4-2, 2.75)
Anderson allowed four runs, two hits and three walks over two-thirds of an inning in Sunday's 10-0 loss to Seattle. The 28-year-old Californian yielded three runs with five strikeouts in five innings covering three relief appearances before his disastrous start. Davis, Kendrys Morales and Marcus Semien have each homered in a combined 12 at-bats versus Anderson, who is 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA in two games (one start) versus the Athletics.
Montas permitted one run and five hits while striking out five over six innings of Oakland's 5-3 loss in 13 innings at Pittsburgh on Sunday. The 26-year-old Dominican Republic native has allowed 38 hits and struck out 35 against 10 walks in 39 1/3 frames this season with a 1.22 WHIP. Montas is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in four games versus the Indians with his only start against them resulting in a 15-3 loss last July 1 when he yielded three runs and nine hits with six strikeouts across 5 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland OF Carlos Gonzalez (.227) is 5-for-15 in his last four games - his second such stretch in his past 12 contests after going 0-for-14 in the middle four.
2. Oakland, which had its five-game home winning streak snapped Thursday, is 9-18 versus right-handed starters this season.
3. The Indians have struck out 346 batters through 36 games - one shy of the club record set in 2017.