Philadelphia @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 24, 2010 ) Cleveland 3, Philadelphia 12
The Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies each received unusually good pitching to come out of the weekend with winning streaks. They will each try to keep it going when they meet for the first time since 2010 on Tuesday in Cleveland. The Indians - ranked 12th in the American League with a 4.37 ERA - gave up 12 runs in their first two games against the Kansas City Royals, but Corey Kluber and Ubaldo Jimenez combined to allow three runs as Cleveland won the final two.
The Phillies, who find themselves 12th in ERA (4.08) in the National League, took all three games from the New York Mets on the road as their starters combined to allow four total runs. Kyle Kendrick tossed a three-hit shutout in the opener, rookie Jonathan Pettibone notched his first career win and Cole Hamels ended his team’s five-game losing streak in his starts. Ryan Howard left his mark in the series as well, driving in more runs himself (seven) than the Mets managed as a team (five).
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Philadelphia), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Halladay (2-2, 5.08 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (1-3, 3.52)
After giving up 12 runs over 7 1/3 innings over two starts to begin the season, Halladay is coming off three consecutive strong starts (1.71 ERA). The two-time Cy Young Award winner won the first two games in that stretch before taking a no-decision in Wednesday’s 5-3 loss against Pittsburgh. Halladay struck out eight Pirates and only allowed one run and one hit over six frames. The eight-time All-Star is 6-2 with a 3.52 ERA in 13 appearances – including 12 starts – against the Indians.
McAllister struggled with his command for the second straight start, issuing a season-high five walks in Wednesday’s 3-2 setback against the Chicago White Sox. The right-hander, who did not walk a batter over his first two turns, yielded three runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings. McAllister is 5-7 with a 4.98 ERA in 18 career starts at home, but will take on Philadelphia for the first time. Ben Revere (2-for-3) and Michael Young (3-for-6) are the only active Phillies to face him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Howard, who is on 10-game hitting streak, has driven in 10 runs over his last five games after recording only six RBIs in his first 19.
2. Cleveland C Carlos Santana is batting .386 and is within striking distance of Sandy Alomar Jr.'s .387 mark in 1997, which was the highest April batting average for a catcher in franchise history.
3. The Indians have the worst home record in the majors at 2-6.
PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Indians 3