Reds at Indians
The Cleveland Indians have, for the most part, acquitted themselves well against some of the league's better teams while slipping up against lesser-tier competition. Coming off consecutive series victories over a pair of American League division leaders, the Indians will wrap up an eight-game homestand with the first of two against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
Although they were denied a three-game sweep in Sunday's series finale against the New York Yankees, Cleveland's slumbering offense has come alive by scoring 37 runs in the last six games. The Indians hope that a visit from the Reds will provide a jolt for Jose Ramirez, who is flirting with the Mendoza line but scorched Cincinnati's pitching in earning Most Outstanding Player honors in the Ohio Cup in 2018. The Reds had scored two runs or fewer in five of six contests before averting a three-game sweep with a 4-3 victory at National League East-leading Philadelphia on Sunday. "You've got to stop the bleeding at some point," first baseman Joey Votto said after delivering a two-run single in Sunday's win. "I think that was really important for us to remind ourselves that we're a legitimate team and we can be competitive, and we're going to stay in this."
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Luis Castillo (6-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. Indians RH Trevor Bauer (4-6, 3.93)
Castillo is unbeaten over his last 11 starts dating to his lone loss on April 3, going 6-0 in that span after limiting the St. Louis Cardinals to one run on two hits over six innings in his last turn. The 26-year-old Dominican has battled control issues over his last three appearances, walking 11 over 14 innings, but will take a 3-0 record and 2.78 record in six road starts into Tuesday's matchup. Set to make his first career start against the Indians, Castillo has held Carlos Santana to one hit in six at-bats.
Although he matched his season high with eight innings last time out versus Minnesota, Bauer's woes continued as he surrendered three homers to lose his fourth consecutive start and fall to 0-5 in his last seven outings. The former No. 3 overall draft pick has allowed nine homers during the winless drought and been charged with at least four runs in six of the seven starts. Bauer overpowered the Reds last year with 12 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings, but he must be wary of Jose Iglesias (8-for-20).
WALK-OFFS
1. Ramirez was 10-for-27 with five homers and 11 RBIs in the six meetings versus Cincinnati a year ago.
2. Votto was 5-for-12 against the Phillies and has reached base in 23 of his last 24 games.
3. Indians C Roberto Perez has four homers and seven RBIs in the past five games.