Cleveland @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 1, 2010 ) Toronto 1, Cleveland 6

Shaun Marcum's previous start against Cleveland couldn't have been much worse.

His all-time numbers against the Indians aren't much to look at, either.

Marcum looks for his first career win against Cleveland on Friday as he leads the Toronto Blue Jays into the opener of a three-game series at the Rogers Centre. Toronto has won five of its last six games to climb four games over the .500 mark, while the Indians have dropped five of six.

The recent streaks by both teams would suggest that Toronto may have an easy time of it this weekend. The head-to-head numbers suggest otherwise.

Toronto has lost its last four meetings with the Indians, who own a 4-3 edge in the season series. Cleveland has won six of its last eight games at the Rogers Centre, and held the powerhouse Blue Jays without a homer in a four-game sweep June 28-July 1 at Progressive Field.

That series capped a dreadful stretch for Toronto, which went 9-17 in June to negate a solid start to the season and effectively take the team out of playoff contention in the ultra-competitive American League East. The Jays are now in "next year" mode, having already dealt Alex Gonzalez to the Atlanta Braves as other names continue to pop up in trade talks entering Saturday's non-waiver deadline.

Marcum's tenure in Toronto appears safe, though he could use a solid start against the Indians on Friday as he continues to put together a strong comeback season. Marcum (9-4) is 0-3 with a 5.34 ERA all-time against the Indians.

He faced them on July 1 and was tagged for six runs on five hits over four innings on the way to a 6-1 loss. Marcum was placed on the 15-day disabled list the following day with inflammation in his pitching elbow. Toronto was extra-cautious with Marcum, who had ligament replacement surgery in 2008 and missed all of last season as a result.

He has been sensational since returning to action, going 2-0 while allowing just three runs over 10 2/3 innings in wins over Baltimore and Detroit. He'll be making his first start at the Rogers Centre since June 20, when he allowed two runs in five innings and earned a no-decision in a 9-6 loss to San Francisco.

The Indians counter with right-hander Justin Masterson (3-9), who outdueled Marcum in their July 1 meeting but has been dreadful since. The 25-year-old is 0-2 over his last four starts, surrendering 19 runs in 23 1/3 innings over that span.

Masterson allowed four runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings in his last outing, a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The 6-foot-6 behemoth is 2-0 all-time against Toronto, with a 2.04 ERA over 17 2/3 innings. Friday will mark his second career start against the Jays.