Game Previews

Game #136: Cleveland Indians (57-78) at Detroit Tigers (72-62)

By Mike Brandyberry

Monday afternoon the Indians took advantage of two early miscues by Alex Avila and a well-pitched game by Corey Kluber to win the first game of the series, 3-2. Asdrubal Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning to break the tie and give the Indians the lead for good and Vinnie Pestano slammed the door in the ninth inning.

The loss drops the Tigers a game behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central Division standings. Detroit had crept into a first place tie after a weekend sweep of Chicago, but gave the game right back on Monday. If the Tigers never overtake Chicago for the division, they’ll be able to point to the Indians as a reason. The Tribe has now won eight of 13 games between the two teams this season.

Justin Masterson (10-12, 4.91 ERA) will try to straighten out some inconsistencies of late and solve his inability to defeat the Tigers in Comerica Park. Masterson was bombed in his last outing, allowing eight runs in four innings of work to the Oakland Athletics last Thursday. The loss drops him to 3-4, with a 7.62 ERA over his last seven starts. To make matters worse, he is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in Comerica Park for his career.

Detroit will send their own inconsistent pitcher to the mound in Rick Porcello (9-10, 4.57 ERA). He is currently on a career worst, four game losing streak. In his last three starts, however, Porcello has allowed three runs or less in each start but has received zero runs of support from his normally slugging Tiger lineup. Porcello struggles against the Indians like Masterson does the Tigers. He is only 1-2, with a 7.56 ERA in five career starts against the Indians.

With the Columbus Clippers’ season complete after yesterday’s game, the Indians recalled David Huff, Scott Maine, Cord Phelps and Vinny Rottino from Triple-A. The Indians current active roster stands at 33 available players. Huff was 7-6, with a 4.97 ERA at Columbus this season. Maine made two scoreless appearances since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs on August 29. Rottino has already made one brief appearance with the Indians this season and Phelps had the best year of any of the four, hitting .276, with 16 home runs and 62 runs batted in at Columbus.

Chris Perez is expected to be back in uniform and available this evening after his wife gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday.

Game time is slated for 7:05 pm from Comerica Park in Detroit. The forecast is calling for light rain all evening, so a delay is possible. The game can be seen on SportsTime Ohio or heard on the Indians Radio Network.

Cleveland Indians Starting Lineup
1. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
2. Jason Kipnis, 2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
4. Carlos Santana, DH
5. Michael Brantley, CF
6. Russ Canzler, LF
7. Casey Kotchman, 1B
8. Jack Hannahan, 3B
9. Lou Marson, C