Cleveland @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 19, 2013 ) Cleveland 2, Houston 3

The Cleveland Indians will try to end the longest current losing streak in the major leagues when they visit the Houston Astros on Saturday in the middle game of their three-game series. The Indians lost their fifth straight Friday, giving up back-to-back homers in the second inning to J.D. Martinez and Rick Ankiel before losing 3-2. Cleveland hasn’t scored more than three runs in any of the games on its losing streak.

Houston has already experienced two losing streaks of at least five games this season. The Astros have a strong leadoff hitter in Jose Altuve, who's hitting a team-high .358 and has hit safely in five straight games. Ankiel appears to be finding his groove. He has homered in each of the last two games to give him four on the season, though he continues to strike out at a high rate. The Astros could be without Martinez for a stretch. He left Friday’s game in the fourth inning after spraining his right knee during his second at-bat and is listed as day-to-day.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), Comcast SportsNet Houston

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians LH Scott Kazmir (2011: 0-0, 27.00) vs. Astros RH Philip Humber (0-3, 2.89)

Kazmir returns to his hometown of Houston where he’ll make his first major-league start since April 3, 2011, when he was making $14.5 million for the Los Angeles Angels. He couldn’t get out of the second inning in that game against the Kansas City Royals and was subsequently placed on the disabled list. Kazmir was demoted to the minors, where his problems continued and he was eventually released later that spring. Kazmir spent last season trying to resurrect his career in an independent league and Puerto Rico and was given a shot by the Indians. He pitched well enough in spring training to make the rotation as the fifth starter and will be given his first chance against the Astros.

Humber has been the most hard-luck loser in the major leagues this season. He has allowed six earned runs and 17 hits in 18 2/3 innings, but the offense has combined for one run in those three starts. He won’t strike out many batters but has consistently gotten the ball over the plate, throwing 66 percent of his pitches for strikes. Humber, who threw a perfect game as a member of the Chicago White Sox last April, made back-to-back starts against the Indians last May but went 0-1 with an 11.88 ERA in the losses. Indians catcher Carlos Santana is 5-for-8 off Humber in his career with a home run.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland RHP Matt Albers was transferred from the family medical emergency list to the restricted list as he waits for the birth of his child. There is no time restriction for a player on the restricted list.

2. The Indians are 2-for-27 with runners in scoring position during their five-game losing streak.

3. The Astros have grounded into five double plays this season, which is tied with the Minnesota Twins for the fewest in the majors.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Astros 2