Indians at Rangers
The Cleveland Indians welcome one of their injured starting pitchers back to the mound as Mike Clevinger looks to help them continue their surge in the opener of a four-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Monday. Clevinger has been out with a back injury for more than two months while two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber still is recovering from a broken right forearm that has kept him sidelined since May 1.
Clevinger hopes to ride the momentum after the Indians completed a three-game sweep at Detroit with an 8-0 victory on Sunday, winning for the eighth time in 11 contests to pull within one-half game of Texas for the American League’s second wild card. The Rangers suffered an 11-3 setback at Cincinnati on Sunday to drop to 14-21 on the road but have been dominant at home (24-12) as they prepare to open a seven-game homestand against Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox. Hunter Pence belted a two-run homer on Sunday and has collected 42 RBIs in his last 41 contests for Texas, but the veteran outfielder left the game with tightness in his right groin and will be re-evaluated on Monday. Lance Lynn has completed at least six innings in nine straight starts for the Rangers and will get the call on Monday at home, where he is 4-0 this season.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Lance Lynn (7-4, 4.40)
Clevinger returns to a major-league mound for the first time since April 7, when he suffered a strained muscle in his upper back during his second start of the season. The 28-year-old allowed two hits and four walks while registering 22 strikeouts over 12 scoreless innings to open the season before getting injured. Delino DeShields is 2-for-8 with a homer and two walks versus Clevinger, who is 0-1 with a 2.42 ERA in five career outings (three starts) against Texas.
Lynn attempts to post his eighth straight quality start after registering a 1.99 ERA and 3-2 record over his last seven turns. The 32-year-old Ole Miss product gave up three runs with eight strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision at Boston on Wednesday. Jason Kipnis is 2-for-5 with a double against Lynn, who permitted one run and five hits over five frames of a no-decision last season in his only previous meeting with Cleveland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers RHP Jose Leclerc has struck out at least one batter in each of his last 23 appearances - 21 of which were as a reliever.
2. Cleveland 1B Carlos Santana has hit safely in 11 straight games and is 2-for-3 lifetime against Lynn.
3. Texas OF Nomar Mazara (hamstring) was held out of Sunday's lineup and is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday.