Cleveland @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2016 ) Cincinnati 1, Cleveland 13

The Cleveland Indians spent the first two games of their home-and-home interleague series against the instate rival Cincinnati Reds tearing the cover off the ball while putting up 28 runs in a pair of wins. The Reds will try to get their pitching sorted out when the series shifts to Cincinnati for the first of two more on Wednesday.

The Indians bashed their way to a 15-6 win in Monday’s opener that included 19 hits and home runs from Yan Gomes and Marlon Byrd. Reds left-hander John Lamb lasted only four innings while allowing seven runs in Monday’s tilt and Alfredo Simon struggled even more on Tuesday, surrendering 10 runs before being lifted after 4 1/3 frames. Cincinnati’s bullpen has drawn most of the criticism over the first six weeks of the season but the starting rotation continues to put the relievers in tough spots, and Simon’s dud pushed the Reds starter’s ERA to 4.92. Cleveland’s 28 runs mark a big departure for an offense that managed a total of 24 runs over the previous eight games – five losses.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (NA) vs. Reds LH Brandon Finnegan (1-2, 4.40 ERA)

Clevinger is getting the call and will make his major league debut after impressing the organization in spring training and at Triple-A Columbus. "We're really excited to watch him," Cleveland manager Terry Francona told reporters. "I don't think (Wednesday’s) start is going to define his career, and I do think he's still developing. But there's a lot to like with a kid with that kind of breaking ball, that kind of velocity, that kind of competitiveness.” Clevinger, 25, went 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA in seven starts for Columbus.

Finnegan is younger than Clevinger at 23 years old and is enjoying his first extended look in a major league rotation. The Texan is having some trouble going deep into games and absorbed a loss at Philadelphia last Friday while allowing three runs on four hits and five walks in four innings. Finnegan began his career in the American League Central with Kansas City and has made four relief appearances against the Indians, going 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA in 5 2/3 total innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians RF Lonnie Chisenhall went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles on Tuesday after missing the previous five days on the bereavement list.

2. Cincinnati RF Jay Bruce is 7-for-10 with three runs scored and two RBIs in the last three games.

3. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor is 6-for-11 in the last two games and recorded multiple hits in four of the last five contests.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Indians 4