Cleveland @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 25, 2013 ) Cleveland 4, Boston 7

The Boston Red Sox entered the season without the usual high expectations that come in Beantown. Without some of the pressure, Boston has responded by playing .600 baseball. The Red Sox will try for their third straight victory over the visiting Cleveland Indians on Sunday in the finale of their four-game series. The Red Sox are one game behind the New York Yankees in the American League East after Saturday's 7-4 victory over the Indians.

Cleveland has lost four of its last five games and has allowed 42 runs in its last six contests as the luster of its surprising 26-17 start is beginning to wear off. The Indians' bullpen was 8-0 prior to Saturday before Vinnie Pestano was roughed up in the eighth inning, when Boston rallied for four runs. Cleveland will send Corey Kluber to the mound. He is 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in four May starts. Kluber will oppose Felix Doubront, who is winless (0-2) in his last four outings but defeated Cleveland 7-2 on April 16.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), New England Sports Network (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (3-3, 5.19 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (3-2, 5.61)

Despite his struggles this month, Kluber has recorded back-to-back quality starts. The 27-year-old allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out a career-high eight in a 5-1 loss to Detroit on Tuesday. Kluber hasn't walked a batter in his last two outings and has issued six against 33 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings. He has faced Boston twice - a one-inning relief appearance in a 6-3 loss on April 17 and a start last season when he yielded six runs in 3 1/3 innings in a 14-1 setback.

Doubront was sailing along with three victories and a no-decision in his first four starts before yielding six runs apiece in back-to-back outings. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has righted the ship by allowing two runs in each of his last two starts, but took the loss in Boston's 3-1 setback to the White Sox in Chicago on Tuesday. Doubront, who allowed two runs and four hits in five innings against the Indians earlier this season, is 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA in three starts against them.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox, who are 5-1 against the Indians this season, are 30-20 overall - 18-12 against right-handed starters and 12-8 against lefties.

2. Cleveland DH Jason Giambi, who did not play Saturday with left-hander Jon Lester on the mound for Boston, is hitless in his last 24 at-bats.

3. Activated from the seven-day disabled list Friday, Boston C David Ross (concussion) went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts Saturday in his first action since May 11.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Indians 5