Baltimore @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( May 28, 2016 ) Baltimore 4, Cleveland 11

The Cleveland Indians have pushed their way to the top of the American League Central and will try to secure a third consecutive series win when they host the Baltimore Orioles in the rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday. The Indians have won nine of their last 13 contests to pull a season-high five games over .500.

Cleveland dropped Friday’s series opener 6-4 but got the offense moving again in an 11-4 victory on Saturday that featured three RBIs from Yan Gomes and two more from Mike Napoli. The Indians figured to lean on their pitching staff this season but are coming together offensively over the last two weeks, scoring six or more runs in seven of their last 13 contests. The Orioles sit one game behind Boston in the AL East but haven’t helped themselves by dropping five of their last six. Baltimore has been in a bit of a funk offensively during the slide and have produced more than four runs only once in its last seven games – Friday’s triumph.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN2, WJZ (Baltimore), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (6-1, 2.61 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mike Clevinger (0-1, 8.71)

Tillman hasn’t lost since April 14 but did not figure in the decision at Houston on Tuesday despite allowing just two runs and three hits in seven innings. The solid outing marked the seventh straight quality start for the 28-year-old native of California. Tillman is 4-2 with a 3.89 ERA in seven career starts against Cleveland and earned a pair of wins over the club last season.

Clevinger is making his third major-league start and is running out of time to prove himself with Carlos Carrasco (hamstring) making his way back from the disabled list. Clevinger was lit up for six runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings at the Chicago White Sox on Monday to absorb his first loss. The 25-year-old has surrendered three home runs in 10 1/3 total frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Napoli is 6-for-19 with two home runs, seven RBIs and six runs scored in his last five games after going hitless in the previous four contests.

2. Baltimore OF Mark Trumbo went 5-for-8 with a homer and two doubles in the first two games of the series.

3. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor is 5-for-12 with four runs scored in his last three contests.

PREDICTION: Orioles 7, Indians 3