Cleveland @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2010 ) Cleveland 1, Philadelphia 2
Kyle Kendrick has been consistently inconsistent for the Philadelphia Phillies this season.
The 25-year-old Texas native has traded fist-pumping performances with head-scratching ones in 2010 - with little rhyme or reason in regard to foe or final score.
After shutting down the world champion New York Yankees in his last start, Kendrick will return to the mound Wednesday as the Phillies (36-32) vie for their fifth win in seven outings when they host the Cleveland Indians (26-43).
Kendrick (4-2, 4.48 ERA) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings as Philadelphia claimed two of three from the Yankees in the World Series rematch last week.
Considering the opponent - both past and present - one would think the right-hander would have little trouble with the light-hitting Indians. Don't be so sure.
Kendrick's impressive outing at Yankee Stadium came on the heels of a six-run, six-hit effort in five innings against the Florida Marlins in his previous start.
Prior to that, Kendrick shut down the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves just days after getting rocked by the Boston Red Sox.
You see a trend? Well, so does Cleveland right-hander Jake Westbrook (4-4, 4.76 ERA).
The 32-year-old hurler allowed five runs and 11 hits in seven innings in his last outing - a 6-4 loss to the New York Mets. Continuing the topsy-turvy trend, the former first-round pick of the 1996 draft has pitched seven innings or more in five of his past seven starts.
Now, how's this for consistency? Veteran southpaw Jamie Moyer recorded his second straight eight-inning effort as Philadelphia posted a 2-1 triumph over Cleveland on Tuesday.
The 47-year-old allowed one run and two hits in the shadow of permitting two runs and three hits against the Yankees last week.
Sidelined with a strained right calf, shortstop Jimmy Rollins was activated from the disabled list prior to the game and promptly reclaimed his traditional spot atop the Phillies' lineup. The 2007 National League Most Valuable Player went 0-for-4 on Tuesday in his first game since May 21.
Neither team hit particularly well on Tuesday, with only Phillies slugger Ryan Howard having multiple hits in the game.
Russell Branyan belted a solo home run – his 10th of the season - for American League Central basement dweller Cleveland, which fell for the seventh time in eight games.