Cleveland @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 6, 2013 ) Cleveland 0, Tampa Bay 6

The run-starved Cleveland Indians will try to awaken their bats Sunday when the face the host Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of their three-game series. The Indians have not scored in their last 19 innings after getting blanked in the first two games of this series. For the Rays, they posted back-to-back shutouts for the second time since May 2008. Cleveland managed two hits off four Tampa Bay pitchers in Friday’s 4-0 loss and scratched together five hits off three hurlers in a 6-0 loss Saturday.

The Rays have been getting production throughout the lineup. Ben Zobrist is hitting .389 in the No. 3 spot and cleanup hitter Evan Longoria, despite not having an extra-base hit, is hitting .368. Kelly Johnson, hitting in the No. 9 spot, hit a two-run homer Saturday. The Rays have also yet to commit an error this season. The Indians, meanwhile, have three starters hitting .318 or better, but five others are hitting below .200.

TV: 1:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, STO (Cleveland), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Justin Masterson (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

Masterson has struggled against the Rays in his career and particularly at Tropicana Field. He is 1-7 against Tampa Bay with a 7.74 ERA and 0-4 at Tropicana with a 8.44 ERA. The 11 home runs he has surrendered against the Rays is the most against any club. In his first start this season, he needed 70 pitches to get through the first three innings against the Blue Jays before using 33 to get through the next three. He left with the Indians leading 4-1 and the score remained that way until the end.

The opposite can be said regarding Price’s history against the Indians. The 2012 AL Cy Young winner is 5-0 in his lifetime against Cleveland with a 1.64 ERA. Against teams in which he owns two or more decisions, the Indians are the only team that hasn’t handed Price a loss. He led the league by allowing two runs or less in 23 starts last season. He hit that mark in his season-opening start against the Orioles, allowing seven hits and two earned runs over six innings. The relievers blew a 3-2 lead and the Rays eventually lost 7-4.

WALK-OFFS

1. Price lasted at least seven innings in a league-high 23 games last season.

2. Cleveland C Lou Marson is day-to-day after suffering a cervical neck strain during a collision at home play with Tampa Bay lead-off hitter Desmond Jennings in the third inning of Saturday’s game.

3. After allowing nine earned runs in its first seven innings of relief this season, Tampa Bay’s bullpen hasn’t allowed a run in its last 5 2/3 innings.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Indians 1