Cleveland @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( May 14, 2013 ) Cleveland 2, Philadelphia 6
Fatigue was bound to catch up with the Cleveland Indians during a stretch in which they play 14 games in 13 days and it has showed over their last few games. They’ll try to head into their first day off in two weeks on a high note as they conclude their season series on the road Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Cleveland averaged 5.2 runs and went 8-2 over the first 10 days of the stretch, but has scored a total of three runs over its last three games after Tuesday’s 6-2 setback.
The Phillies matched their season high with their third consecutive victory and won for the 14th time in 18 games when they score more than three runs, something they have done only once over the last six starts made by Cole Hamels. Philadelphia has backed its ace with an average of 2.79 runs in his eight outings – the sixth-lowest mark out of 109 qualifying pitchers. Making the problem worse is that after a poor start to the season (13 runs allowed in his first two games), Hamels has yielded only 11 runs total over his last six turns.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (2-2, 5.64 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (1-5, 4.18)
Kluber is coming off his worst outing of the season in Friday’s 10-4 setback at Detroit. The right-hander was roughed up for eight runs – two more than he had allowed in his previous four appearances combined – and 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings. Following the loss, he stated that he lost his delivery and made too many mistakes with his cut fastball. Kluber, who is allowing opposing hitters to bat .356, will make his first career interleague start, but has only faced two Phillies – Ben Revere (3-for-8) and Delmon Young (3-for-6).
Despite not allowing more than three runs in any of his last six outings, Hamels has only one win to show for it. The three-time All-Star took his second straight loss in Thursday’s 2-1 loss at Arizona even though he only gave up two runs and six hits over six frames – the fourth time his offense scored one run or less in his starts. Hamels has faced the Indians only one time in his career, taking the loss in a five-inning outing in 2007.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia’s last 16 home runs have been solo shots.
2. The Indians are 0-4 at Citizens Bank Park.
3. The Phillies have lost 16 of 23 games started by Hamels, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, who earn a combined $64.5 million.
PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Indians 2