Indians at Rangers
The Texas Rangers hope to continue their dominance at home despite injury concerns when they host the Cleveland Indians for the second contest of their four-game series on Tuesday. Danny Santana recorded two hits for the third straight game, belting a two-run homer in Monday’s 7-2 triumph as the Rangers improved to 25-12 at Globe Life Park.
Hunter Pence, who has collected 42 RBIs in his last 41 games, was placed on the injured list Monday with a groin issue and slugger Joey Gallo remains there with an oblique ailment while Nomar Mazara has missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury. The Rangers send Adrian Sampson to the mound in search of another home victory and the Indians counter with rookie Zach Plesac, who is coming off his worst start in the majors. Cleveland won eight of 11 games before suffering a setback on Monday in which he. Carlos Santana brings a 12-game hitting streak (13-for-45) into Tuesday’s contest while Francisco Lindor is 21-for-59 with four homers this month for the Indians, who are 17-17 on the road.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Zach Plesac (1-2, 2.92 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Adrian Sampson (5-3, 4.21)
Plesac allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings of a loss to Cincinnati on Wednesday after yielding a total of four tallies across 19 1/3 frames in his first three major-league starts. The 24-year-old Ball State product earned his first big-league victory in his previous start, limiting the New York Yankees to two runs over seven innings on June 7. Plesac has given up two runs and eight hits with nine strikeouts and two walks over 12 1/3 innings on the road with the Indians.
Sampson saw his five-start winning streak end Thursday at Boston as he permitted six runs and seven hits - four homers - over five innings in a no-decision. The 27-year-old native of Washington allowed eight runs - seven earned - across 31 2/3 frames during a winning streak that included a complete-game triumph against Oakland on June 8. Sampson, who will be facing Cleveland for the first time, is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA in eight outings (five starts) at home this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians OF Oscar Mercado has gone 8-for-19 with a homer and five RBIs in his last four contests.
2. Texas RHP Jose Leclerc has recorded at least one strikeout in 22 straight relief appearances, one behind Wayne Rosenthal for the franchise record.
3. Cleveland optioned LHP Josh Smith to Triple-A Columbus to make room for RHP Mike Clevinger, who made the start on Monday.