Cleveland @ Texas preview
Globe Life Park in Arlington
Last Meeting ( Mar 10, 2013 ) Texas 7, Cleveland 6
The Cleveland Indians attempt to end a seven-game losing skid when they open a three-game road series on Monday against the Texas Rangers. Cleveland is winless six games into a nine-game road trip and has lost 11 consecutive road contests for the franchise’s longest stretch of away-game ineptitude since 1991. Texas completed a 2-4 road trip by beating the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday and is opening an 11-game homestand – the Rangers are 18-8 at home.
Texas inched back ahead of the Oakland Athletics in the American League West race with Sunday’s victory and is hopeful of putting a stretch of lackluster play behind it with the long homestand at Rangers Ballpark. The Rangers have won just five of their last 13 games while Oakland has been streaking. Cleveland sits two games below .500 after losing 15 of 19 games since being nine games over .500 on May 20.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians LH Scott Kazmir (3-3, 5.24 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Josh Lindblom (0-1, 7.71)
Kazmir is 6-3 with a 2.87 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 13 career outings against Texas. He lost to the New York Yankees in his last outing when he gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. Kazmir is 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA in five road starts this season.
Lindblom was recalled to make his second major-league start when Alexi Ogando (shoulder) was placed on the disabled list. He lost his first career start on May 20 against the Oakland Athletics when he allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Lindblom’s first 101 big-league appearances came in relief before Texas opted to try him as a starter.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre, who has a 14-game hitting streak, is batting .217 with a homer and 10 strikeouts in 23 career at-bats against Kazmir.
2. Indians OF Nick Swisher experienced 26 consecutive hitless at-bats before hitting a single in the sixth inning of Sunday’s loss. He is 2-for-36 over his last 10 outings.
3. Texas SS Elvis Andrus is 5-for-37 over his last nine games.
PREDICTION: Rangers 9, Indians 4