Cleveland @ Tampa Bay preview
Tropicana Field
Last Meeting ( May 17, 2010 ) Cleveland 3, Tampa Bay 4
Just when the Cleveland Indians were beginning to play better, injuries have wiped out the top of the batting order.
Leadoff man Asdrubal Cabrera is out indefinitely with a fractured left forearm that may require surgery. Most likely, he will be sidelined a minimum of six weeks.
No. 2 hitter Grady Sizemore would be an ideal candidate to return to the leadoff role, but Sizemore suffered a left knee contusion while sliding into a base on Sunday and missed Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Manager Manny Acta is hesitant to use Sizemore on the turf in Tampa Bay, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him sit again on Tuesday.
Cleveland is expected to recall infielder Jason Donald from Triple-A Columbus prior to Tuesday’s game.
Donald was part of the package of prospects that the Indians received from the Philadelphia Phillies last summer in the Cliff Lee deal, but he has yet to play for Cleveland. He is batting .277 with a pair of homers, 17 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 37 games for the Clippers.
The Rays’ 4-3 win in 11 innings Monday was rare. Tampa Bay is 5-10 against the Indians the last two seasons and 31-65 (.318) against them since coming into existence – easily their worst winning percentage against any opponent.
But the Rays’ pitching is good enough right now to rewrite even their worst moments of history. Tampa Bay’s staff has a 2.74 ERA, easily the best mark in baseball.
Starter David Price’s ERA entering Tuesday is even better at 2.03. He is trying to win his third straight outing for the first time in his career.
Cleveland will counter with David Huff, who might be pitching for his spot in the rotation. Huff has fallen apart since pitching a complete game against Texas on April 15 for his only victory of the season. Since then, he has allowed seven homers and 19 runs over his last four starts - losing them all.
He was summoned to Acta’s office last week after allowing six runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals. Acta and pitching coach Tim Belcher “lit a fire under my butt,” according to Huff. The Indians want him to throw his fastball more often and trust his stuff.
Huff made his major league debut at Tropicana Field last season, but didn’t fare well in his only career appearance against the Rays. He allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings on May 17 – nearly a year to the day of what could be his final start with the Indians for a little while.