Toronto @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2010 ) Toronto 1, Cleveland 3

For the first time in his career, Matt LaPorta can finally rely on full-time major-league employment – and he's definitely taking advantage of his new job status.

LaPorta looks to continue his hot hitting as he leads the surging Cleveland Indians into the matinee finale of a four-game series with the visiting Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field. The Indians have won four straight games, three of those coming against the struggling Jays.

LaPorta had a hand in the last two Cleveland victories, homering in each of them. He was guaranteed regular at-bats after the Indians traded Russell Branyan to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.

LaPorta has asserted himself well since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus, going 4-for-9 in his new role as the Indians' starting first baseman. His home run Wednesday helped make a winner of Aaron Laffey, who tossed six solid innings for his first victory since last August.

Shin-Soo Choo also went deep in the 3-1 Cleveland win, which evened their season series with Toronto at three wins apiece.

The Indians will try to secure the advantage in the head-to-head matchup – and complete their first four-game sweep of the Blue Jays since 1995 – as they send Justin Masterton to the mound in Thursday's finale.

Masterson (2-7) has been inconsistent over the past month, alternating good and bad starts. He was awful his last time out, allowing six runs over five innings in a 6-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Masterson has been a major bust since coming to Cleveland in a trade with the Boston Red Sox last season. The 25-year-old right-hander is 3-14 in an Indians uniform, his only hot streak coming earlier this month when he registered back-to-back wins over the Chicago White Sox and Boston.

Masterson hasn't faced the Blue Jays as a starter, but owns an impressive 2.89 ERA in seven appearances against Toronto all-time.

The Blue Jays counter with Shaun Marcum (7-3) as they look to avoid tumbling back to the .500 mark for the season. Toronto has dropped four games in a row, finishing the month of June with a dreadful 9-17 mark to fall well back of the pack in the American League East race.

Marcum rallied from a pair of horrible starts early in the month, and has thrown three straight quality starts since. The 28-year-old righty was victorious in his last outing, limiting Philadelphia to just one run on five hits over six strong innings as the Blue Jays cruised past the Phillies 5-1.

Marcum has enjoyed a remarkable return after missing all of last season with a major arm injury. He has a sparkling 3.14 ERA and has limited opposing hitters to a .237 batting average.

He has been particularly effective in matinee action, owning a 5-0 record with a 2.40 ERA in nine afternoon starts so far this season.

Marcum hasn't been nearly as strong against Cleveland, sitting 0-2 with a 4.38 ERA all-time. He last faced the Indians on May 12, 2008, when he limited them to a pair of hits over eight shutout innings but settled for a no-decision in a 3-0 Toronto victory.