Indians at Orioles
The Cleveland Indians got off to a bit of a slow start but are beginning to find their high gear as they approach the All-Star break. The Indians will try to continue taking advantage of a soft spot in the schedule and chip away at the Minnesota Twins' lead in the American League Central when they visit the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
Cleveland was sitting at .500 after a loss to the Twins on June 6 but has since gone 13-5 and finished off a 5-1 homestand on Wednesday with a 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The Indians began their homestand by sweeping the sub-.500 Detroit Tigers and have a chance to do more damage with the last eight games prior to the All-Star break at Baltimore, at Kansas City and at Cincinnati. The Orioles (22-58) are at the beginning of a long rebuilding cycle and were swept in a two-game series at home this week by former franchise player Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres, dropping them to 1-13 in the last 14 games. Cleveland will try to carve up the Baltimore lineup with right-hander Mike Clevinger on Friday while the Orioles bring rookie lefty John Means off the injured list.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), MASN 2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (1-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. Orioles LH John Means (6-4, 2.67)
Clevinger is set to come off the injured list to make the start after going down with an ankle injury at Texas on June 17. The 28-year-old was making his first start in more than two months after suffering a back injury in April and yielded five runs on three hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings before the ankle injury. Clevinger, who owns 29 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings this season, went 2-0 in two starts against Baltimore last season, tossing a total of 15 scoreless innings and surrendering nine hits.
Means is emerging as the Orioles' best and most consistent starter this season and allowed three or fewer runs in eight consecutive starts before going down with shoulder soreness. The 26-year-old, who owns a 2.25 ERA in three June starts, came through a bullpen session Tuesday with no issues and is on track to be activated prior to Friday's contest. Means is making his first career appearance against Cleveland and is 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA in nine games (seven starts) at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians SS Francisco Lindor is 8-for-18 with four doubles and four runs scored in the last four games.
2. Baltimore RHP Shawn Armstrong allowed a total of seven runs and six hits over five innings in his last three appearances.
3. Cleveland 1B Carlos Santana is 10-for-30 with four home runs, six RBIs, eight runs scored and five walks in his last eight games and has reached base safely in 21 straight contests.