Tigers at Indians
Rookie Oscar Mercado broke out of a big slump in the series opener and looks to build off his first career multi-homer performance when the Cleveland Indians host the Detroit Tigers for the second of a four-game set Tuesday night. Mercado was 1-for-25 in July coming into Monday’s contest before going 3-for-5, including the go-ahead solo shot in the seventh inning as the Indians rallied for an 8-6 victory.
Jose Ramirez followed with a two-run double in the seventh inning, improving to 10-for-29 with three homers and eight RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak for Cleveland, which has won 13 of its last 18 games overall and nine of 10 versus Detroit this year. Rookie Zach Plesac hopes to find his form from June when he won his first three career games for the Indians and the Tigers will likely turn to left-hander Ryan Carpenter in Tuesday’s contest between American League Central rivals. Detroit coughed up a two-run lead Monday and lost for the ninth time in 11 contests despite another impressive outing by Harold Castro, who had two hits and is 10-for-17 with four RBIs in his last four games. Jordy Mercer launched two of the Tigers’ four homers in the latest loss after starting July with just three hits in 22 at-bats while teammate Niko Goodrum is 13-for-34 with six RBIs against Cleveland this season.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Ryan Carpenter (1-5, 8.36 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach Plesac (3-3, 4.00)
The Tigers sent reliever Jose Cisnero down and are expected to recall Carpenter to start Tuesday after allowing one earned run on five hits over six innings with Triple-A Toledo last Thursday. The 28-year-old Gonzaga product took the loss in his last major league start on July 5 against Boston while permitting three runs over five innings. Carpenter was pounded for eight runs (six earned) over three innings in a loss to Cleveland in his previous start on June 14.
Plesac is also expected to be recalled to make his ninth start for the Indians after spending the All-Star break with Triple-A Columbus. The 24-year-old Ball State product struggled in his last two starts in the majors, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits and six walks combined across 6 1/3 innings while going 0-1. Nicholas Castellanos owns a double versus Plesac, who limited the Tigers to one run on five hits over seven innings for the victory on June 23.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit RHP Trevor Rosenthal gave up one hit and struck out two over one inning in his debut with the team Monday.
2. Cleveland OF Tyler Naquin is 11-for-26 with a homer and seven RBIs over his last seven contests.
3. Tigers OF JaCoby Jones (lower back strain) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Monday.