Cleveland @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 25, 2010 ) Cleveland 3, Cincinnati 10
After the litany of talented arms that Sam LeCure has opposed recently, the idea of facing Justin Masterson on Saturday should leave him thrilled.
LeCure has dropped four straight starts since winning his major league debut for Cincinnati on May 28. While he has been hit hard at times, he’s also had little margin for error.
LeCure has already opposed former Cy Young Award winners Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals and Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals, as well as San Francisco Giants stud Matt Cain and Seattle Mariners hurler Felix Hernandez.
Unfortunately for the Indians, Masterson doesn’t fall in that same category.
Masterson’s record might be troubling, but he has pitched well in four of his last five starts and continues to look like a different pitcher.
It’s most everything else that hasn’t gone right in Cleveland. Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is out indefinitely with a broken forearm and center fielder Grady Sizemore is out for the season following microfracture surgery.
The starters have been erratic and the bullpen has been a mess, right down to closer Kerry Wood. The Indians would like to shop the expensive Wood, who makes more than $10 million this season, but the team is finding it difficult to unload a closer with a 7.98 ERA and three blown saves in eight chances.
Now catching phenom Carlos Santana is the latest to survive an injury scare. Santana had to leave Friday’s game early with an injured left thumb, but X-rays were negative and he is expected back in the lineup on Saturday.
The Indians have lost six straight, nine of their last 10 and they are already 20 games under .500.
Conversely, the Reds continue to fight the Cardinals for control of the NL Central.
Drew Stubbs and Scott Rolen both homered for the Reds in Friday’s victory, giving them eight homers in four games this season against Cleveland. Rolen has three of those blasts in his last two games against the Indians.
A 26-year-old fourth-round pick out of Texas in 2005, LeCure has been hit hard in two starts against the American League.
He has allowed nine runs in 12 2/3 innings to the Mariners and Royals, neither of which is an offensive powerhouse in the American League. LeCure has a 6.39 ERA in two starts against the American League - and a 3.12 ERA in three starts against the NL.