Indians at Blue Jays
All-Star Marcus Stroman could be making his final start for the Toronto Blue Jays when he takes the mound in the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. Stroman, who is coming off one of his best efforts of the campaign, often has been mentioned in trade rumors with the deadline looming in a week and his contract expiring at the end of this season.
The Blue Jays gave Stroman a chance to take the series on Tuesday by rallying for a run in both the ninth and 10th innings to earn a 2-1 victory as Justin Smoak provided the heroics, belting a homer to forge a tie before recording an infield single to plate Eric Sogard with the winner. Toronto has scored 49 runs in its last nine contests while rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hopes to continue his hot hitting (9-for-18, five RBIs, his last five games) on Wednesday as he faces Cleveland starter Shane Bieber, who has lost just once since May 13. The Indians came up short for just the second time in eight games on Tuesday as they managed six hits and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position but still occupy the American League’s top wild-card spot and are within striking distance of first-place Minnesota in the AL Central. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor knocked in the only run in the setback and is 9-for-22 with five RBIs over his last five contests for Cleveland, which lost for the first time in six meetings with the Blue Jays this year.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Shane Bieber (9-3, 3.69 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (6-10, 3.06)
Bieber was able to post his seventh victory in eight decisions last time out despite allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings against Kansas City. The 24-year-old Californian, who has registered 156 strikeouts and issued only 28 walks over 124 1/3 frames, is 6-2 with a 3.19 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) on the road. Freddy Galvis is 1-for-2 with a homer versus Bieber, who gave up two runs and two hits over six innings in a no-decision against the Blue Jays on April 5.
Stroman permitted six hits without issuing a walk in seven scoreless innings to win at Detroit on Friday. The 28-year-old Duke product has posted five quality starts in his last six outings, yielding 10 earned runs over 36 frames, and has served up just 10 homers in 20 turns this year. Tyler Naquin is 7-for-12 with a double against Stroman, who gave up three runs and six hits in six innings of a loss at Cleveland on April 7 and is 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA in seven career games versus the Indians.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians 1B Carlos Santana has reached base in 39 of his last 41 games after recording his 21st double on Tuesday.
2. Toronto OF Teoscar Hernandez is 9-for-24 with four homers and seven RBIs over his last seven contests.
3. Cleveland LHP Brad Hand blew his second save opportunity on Tuesday and has allowed three runs and six hits over four innings in his last four outings.