Cleveland @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 10, 2013 ) Cleveland 3, Texas 6

The Cleveland Indians have gone from a feel-good story to a cautionary tale in the span of a few weeks as an up-and-down season has settled into a deep valley. The Indians will be attempting to snap an eight-game slide when they visit the Texas Rangers again on Tuesday. Cleveland was 26-17 and in first place in the AL Central on May 20 but has dropped 16 of its last 20 games to fall below .500.

The Indians were swept by the Central-leading Detroit Tigers over the weekend and could not hang onto a lead in Monday’s opener against the Rangers. Texas finished up a 2-4 road trip on Sunday but began an 11-game homestand with the 6-3 victory on Monday. Lance Berkman busted out of a slump with a go-ahead home run. A.J. Pierzynski has been hot for the Rangers, who have scored six runs in back-to-back games after averaging 2.7 in the first seven games of the month.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (3-4, 4.56 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Derek Holland (5-2, 2.82)

Kluber is coming off a tough outing at New York in which he was reached for six runs (four earned) and seven hits in six innings to absorb the loss. The right-hander did notch eight strikeouts in that turn and has punched out 54 batters while walking only nine in 49 1/3 total innings. Kluber, who has never faced the Rangers, is 3-2 with a 4.72 ERA on the road.

Holland has dominated lately, going 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA in his last three starts. The Ohio native has yielded two or fewer runs in eight of his 12 starts. Holland has never lost to the Indians, owning a 3-0 record with a 2.31 ERA in six starts. But Carlos Santana has gone 6-for-16 with a pair of homers and seven RBIs against the left-hander.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler (ribs) hit off a tee for the second straight day Monday.

2. Cleveland acquired veteran INF John McDonald from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations.

3. Texas OF/1B Jeff Baker has nine home runs in 77 at-bats.

PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Indians 4