Toronto @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2013 ) Toronto 5, Cleveland 4

One of the Indians' top pitching prospects makes his major-league debut Thursday afternoon as Danny Salazar leads host Cleveland into the finale of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Salazar will be making a spot start in place of the injured Zach McAllister (sprained finger), who is expected back after next week's All-Star break. The series is tied at a win apiece, with Cleveland taking the opener 3-0 before falling 5-4 on Tuesday.

The Blue Jays counter with National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, who enters the break still looking for the form that earned him his first All-Star nod a season ago. Dickey is among the American Leaders in losses and is coming off another rough outing at the hands of the Minnesota Twins. The Indians lead the season series 3-2, continuing the historic trend between two of the majors' most evenly matched teams.

TV: 12:05 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (8-9, 4.77 ERA) vs. Indians RH Danny Salazar (NR)

Six has been an unlucky number for Dickey as he stumbles into his final start of the first half. The veteran knuckleballer coughed up six runs over seven uninspired innings against the Twins last time out - the seventh time this season he has allowed six or more runs. Dickey made his Toronto debut against the Indians on April 2, taking the loss after surrendering four runs (three earned) on five hits over six innings.

Salazar earned a spot start with the major-league club after impressing at Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus. The 23-year-old right-hander is 5-5 with a 3.08 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 76 innings between the two levels. "When all of the minor-league coordinators came through Cleveland a couple of weeks ago, one of the questions was could Salazar handle one of these spot starts," manager Terry Francona told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "It was a unanimous yes."

WALK-OFFS

1. OF Michael Bourn has the most experience of any Cleveland hitter against Dickey, going 10-for-31.

2. The Blue Jays lead the series 192-191, though the Indians have a 1,814-1,811 edge in runs scored.

3. Toronto has won the season series each of the past two years.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 7, Indians 3