Indians at Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles came into the weekend with losses in 13 of their last 14 games and the worst record in the majors but they looked like a different team in Friday's series opener. The Orioles will try to follow up a rare lopsided victory when they host the Cleveland Indians in the second of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon.
Baltimore pitchers allowed an average of 8.9 runs during the 1-13 stretch but got lefty John Means back from a shoulder injury on Friday and watched as he and three relievers combined on a six-hit shutout. The Orioles' offense hasn't exactly been firing on all cylinders over the last few weeks but had little trouble against the Indians on Friday as Chance Sisco drove in five runs and Anthony Santander plated four in the 13-0 triumph. Cleveland was looking to make up some ground before the break with series at Baltimore and Kansas City but instead fell on Friday for the fourth time in the last 14 games and failed to make up any ground on the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central. The Indians will try to bounce back on Saturday behind right-hander Zach Plesac while the Orioles try to secure a rare series win behind righty Andrew Cashner.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), MASN 2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Zach Plesac (3-2, 2.33 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (7-3, 4.37)
Plesac allowed one run in four of his six starts and limited the Detroit Tigers to one run and five hits over seven innings to earn a win on Sunday. The 24-year-old rookie yielded a solo home run in that outing and is up to seven homers allowed in 38 2/3 total innings. Plesac is making his first appearance against Baltimore and is 1-1 with a 1.40 ERA in three road starts.
Cashner posted his third consecutive quality start last Saturday, when he allowed two runs and five hits in six innings while walking one and striking out three. The veteran Texan did not surrender a homer in any of his last three turns after yielding 11 in his first 12 outings. Cashner struck out seven in six innings against Cleveland last season but was charged with four runs on eight hits and a pair of walks to suffer a loss.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 3B Rio Ruiz went 3-for-4 on Friday, matching his hit total from his previous 11 games.
2. Indians 3B/SS Yu-Cheng Chang went 0-for-3 in his major league debut on Friday
3. Baltimore SS Jonathan Villar recorded 11 runs scored in his last nine games.