Indians at Reds
The Cleveland Indians hope to head into the All-Star break with a season-high six straight victories when they visit the state-rival Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon for the finale of their two-game interleague set. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor homered twice and catcher Roberto Perez went 4-for-5 with a two-run blast Saturday as the Indians rallied for a 7-2 win - their 20th in the last 28 contests.
Cleveland had an emotional Saturday as starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco announced in a video before the game he is being treated for leukemia and hopes to return by the end of July, but manager Terry Francona told reporters there is no estimate on when the right-hander could pitch again. The Indians will send the inconsistent Trevor Bauer to the mound in the finale and Cincinnati, which saw its three-game winning streak come to an end, will counter with fellow right-hander Tyler Mahle. The Reds had posted two straight shutouts coming into Saturday’s matchup, but failed to score after the first inning when Yasiel Puig launched a two-run homer to give his team a 2-1 lead. Puig, who had three of Cincinnati’s five hits Saturday, is 8-for-15 with three homers and six RBIs over the last four games while teammate Eugenio Suarez has hit safely in six of his last seven contests (10-for-29, four homers, nine RBIs).
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (7-6, 3.74 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tyler Mahle (2-8, 4.36)
Bauer is unbeaten in his last five trips to the mound after giving up five runs and a season-high 11 hits over six innings in a 9-5 victory at Kansas City on Tuesday. The 28-year-old UCLA product finished with a 3.06 ERA in five starts last month, allowing one run over 7 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Reds on June 11, after going 0-4 with a 5.50 ERA in May. Puig is 3-for-5 with a homer versus Bauer, who is 1-2 with a 3.03 ERA in six career games against Cincinnati.
Mahle is winless in his last five outings despite posting quality starts in two of the past three, after yielding three runs across six innings against Milwaukee on Monday. The 24-year-old Californian, who gave up five homers in his last three games, owns a 3.24 ERA at home this year as opposed to 5.04 on the road. Jose Ramirez and Santana have each homered against Mahle, who gave up seven runs (five earned) over 2 1/3 innings in a loss to Cleveland last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto belted his 389th double Saturday to tie Dave Concepcion for third on the franchise’s all-time list.
2. Cleveland 1B-LF Jake Bauers had two hits Saturday and is 10-for-18 with two walks and five RBIs in his last five games.
3. Reds 2B Scooter Gennett (groin) struck out as a pinch hitter Saturday and is not expected to start in the series finale.