Cleveland @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2012 ) Detroit 6, Cleveland 7

The Cleveland Indians have won four straight and 10 of 11 to pull within a game of the Detroit Tigers atop the American League Central. The Indians, who visit the Tigers to begin a three-game series on Friday, will try to use this weekend to vault past their divisional rival. Detroit has dropped back-to-back games, but is returning home where it owns a 10-4 record. Cleveland did most of its recent damage in its own park.

The Indians swept a four-game series from the Oakland Athletics and allowed a total of eight runs in the four contests. That pitching staff has been strong during the bulk of the last 11 games, with three shutouts in the mix. The offense has done the rest with 24 home runs in that span. The Tigers have been one of the top offenses in baseball for much of the early season, but were held to five runs in two games at Washington after pounding the Houston Astros for 37 runs in a four-game sweep last weekend.

TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), Fox Sports Detroit-Plus

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (2-1, 3.06 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Max Scherzer (4-0, 3.43)

Kluber has the lone loss in the last 11 games, when he was reached for three runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings against Minnesota. The 27-year-old had surrendered a total of three runs in his first three appearances (one start). Kluber has made three appearances against Detroit in the past and has yielded a total of 10 runs and 18 hits in 13 innings.

Scherzer allowed one run and three hits while striking out eight in eight innings at Houston on Saturday. The right-hander has 54 strikeouts in 39 1/3 total innings and has issued only nine walks. Scherzer has a 5-4 record with a 5.26 ERA in 11 starts against Cleveland. Asdrubal Cabrera has struck out 10 times in 26 at-bats against Scherzer while Nick Swisher is 2-for-7 with four punchouts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians 1B Mark Reynolds leads the AL with 11 home runs. He is 0-for-5 against Scherzer.

2. Detroit 3B Miguel Cabrera (sore back) played through the pain on Thursday and went 2-for-5.

3. Cleveland CF Michael Bourn (right index finger cut) was activated from the 15-day disabled list and is expected to play Friday.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Indians 2