Texas @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2013 ) Texas 0, Cleveland 1
After exploding for 21 runs in a pair of victories, the Cleveland Indians mustered just one in their latest triumph. With wins on opposite ends of the offensive spectrum under their belt, the host Indians vie for their fourth straight victory and a series sweep of the struggling Texas Rangers on Sunday. Michael Bourn provided the lone offense on Saturday by leading off the first inning with his second homer in three games.
While Cleveland's hot streak has kept it three games behind American League Central-leading Detroit, Texas has fallen on hard times. The Rangers have dropped three in a row and 11 of 14 to plummet five games behind AL West-leading Oakland. Engel Beltre had a pair of hits after recording a key RBI single on Friday, but David Murphy is expected back in the lineup Sunday.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Alexi Ogando (4-2, 3.13 ERA) vs. Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (7-5, 4.49)
Ogando has dominated Cleveland in his career, posting a 3-0 mark with an ultra-slim 0.84 ERA while limiting the Indians to a .129 batting average. The 29-year-old Dominican settled for his second straight no-decision Tuesday after allowing three runs in five innings against the New York Yankees. Ogando has yielded just nine earned runs in his last five starts but is just 2-0 in that span.
Jimenez struggled with his control again in his last outing, issuing four walks to Seattle in 5 2/3 innings en route to his first loss since June 7. The 29-year-old Dominican has issued multiple free passes in nine straight outings and has allowed 57 this season. Jimenez evened his career mark at 2-2 against Texas after allowing one run over five frames in a 5-2 triumph on June 12.
WALK-OFFS
1. Texas SS Elvis Andrus, who went 1-for-4 on Saturday, has hit safely in all 36 career games against Cleveland.
2. Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera, who has eight hits in his last four contests, is 2-for-3 in his lone appearance versus Ogando.
3. After going hitless in four at-bats on Saturday, Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland is mired in a 2-for-33 slump since the All-Star break.
PREDICTION: Indians 4, Rangers 2