Indians at Mets
Amed Rosario has made himself at home in the leadoff spot, replacing the injured Jeff McNeil to bat 16-for-28 in his last six contests. After collecting two hits in the series opener, Rosario aims to continue his torrid stretch on Wednesday as the New York Mets host the Cleveland Indians.
Rosario, who had an RBI single in New York's 9-2 win on Tuesday, is not alone in heating up at the plate as Michael Conforto went deep in his second straight game with a two-run shot in the sixth inning. The 26-year-old Conforto has eight RBIs in his last five contests overall and six go-ahead RBIs in August for the Mets, who have won 19 of their last 24 to move a season high-tying five games over .500. Rookie Oscar Mercado aims to rebound after a disastrous series-opening performance in which he went 0-for-4 at the plate while his embarrassing error was underscored by Conforto's blast in the next at-bat. The speedy rookie was 9-for-18 during his previous five contests for the Indians, who have lost five of their last seven overall to fall three games behind American League Central-leading Minnesota.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Adam Plutko (5-3, 4.67 ERA) vs. Mets RH Marcus Stroman (7-11, 3.21)
Handed a seven-run lead before even making a pitch, Plutko benefited from his team's 19-run, 24-hit explosion to pick up a win against the New York Yankees on Thursday. While the result was a laugher, there's nothing funny about the 27-year-old surrendering a pair of homers in his second straight start and 19 in 71 1/3 innings this season. Plutko has struggled to get his footing away from Progressive Field, with his ERA (5.29) a full run more on the road while allowing the opposition to bat .314 against him.
Stroman emerged victorious in his third start since being acquired from Toronto, overcoming a pair of homers and four walks in a 10-8 win at Atlanta on Thursday. The 28-year-old New York native limited the damage to three runs (two earned) on four hits in 5 1/3 innings to record his first victory since July 19. Stroman dropped a pair of decisions to Cleveland this season despite turning in quality starts, including a hard-luck setback on July 24 after permitting one run on five hits in seven innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis drove in both runs in the series opener, eclipsing his total of one in his previous eight games.
2. New York rookie 1B Pete Alonso is 12-for-21 with two homers, 12 RBIs and four runs scored in his last five contests.
3. Two-time AL Cy Young Award recipient RHP Corey Kluber will be shut down for two weeks with an internal left oblique strain, the Indians announced Tuesday.