Washington @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2010 ) Washington 9, Cleveland 4
Following a tough road trip, the Cleveland Indians are happy to be returning home – even if it is against the surging Washington Nationals. The Indians, who will host the Nationals for three games starting Friday, dropped the first seven contests during a nine-game road trip before winning two straight against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Jason Kipnis was one of the offense’s few bright spots during most of the drought, going 11-for-28 over the last seven games.
Washington (33-32) downed the Colorado Rockies on Thursday to win for the fourth time in five games and climb over .500 for the first time in June. Ryan Zimmerman went deep for the first time since his three-homer game on May 29 and drove in three runs while Ian Desmond went 4-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games – a stretch during which he is batting .404. Desmond has been even better over his last five, going 11-for-18 with eight RBIs.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.59 ERA) vs. Indians RH Justin Masterson (8-5, 3.68)
Gonzalez saw his winless streak stretch to six starts with a no-decision Saturday in a 4-3 setback against the Minnesota Twins. The two-time All-Star allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks, settling for his fifth no-decision since May 12 – a stretch during which he is 0-1 despite a 2.27 ERA. Gonzalez has won each of his four career outings at Progressive Field thanks to a sparkling 0.68 ERA and is 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA in six starts against Cleveland.
Masterson suffered his second consecutive defeat in Sunday’s 4-1 road loss against the Detroit Tigers, giving up four runs and six hits over seven frames. The right-hander has surrendered four runs or more in three of his last four turns, although each poor outing was on the road. At home, the Indians ace is 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA. Masterson will make his first career start against the Nationals, with his only appearance coming in relief in 2009.
WALK-OFFS
1. Desmond has a 46-game errorless streak – the longest active streak by a major-league shortstop.
2. Cleveland 3B Mark Reynolds, who led the American League with 11 home runs on May 9, has since been limited to two and is batting .180 during that span.
3. The Indians have won seven straight interleague home games while the Nationals are 8-4 against AL foes this season.
PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Indians 2