Los Angeles @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 20, 2013 ) Cleveland 5, LA Angels 6

The Cleveland Indians absorbed what may have been a fatal blow to their division title hopes, getting swept by American League Central leader Detroit in a four-game home series. The Indians, who fell seven games behind the Tigers, will look to regroup when they host the reeling Los Angeles Angels in a three-game series beginning Friday night. Cleveland is three games out of the second wild card and plays 29 of its final 47 games against teams with sub-.500 records.

The Angels have a couple of things in common with the Indians - they are also riding a four-game skid and were ambushed by a division rival at home. Los Angeles was outscored 23-8 in a three-game sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers to fall 11 games under .500 as they begin a seven-game road trip. Albert Pujols remains sidelined with plantar fasciitis and slugger Josh Hamilton's averaged dipped to .217 after he went hitless in 12 at-bats against Texas.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (6-5, 2.90 ERA) vs. Indians LH Scott Kazmir (7-4, 3.89)

Weaver missed more than seven weeks with a fractured elbow and didn't notch his second win until July, but he has raised his game since the All-Star break. He allowed three runs over 7 2/3 innings to beat Toronto last time out and is 3-0 with four runs allowed over his last four starts. Weaver has a strong track record against Cleveland, posting a 6-2 record and 2.88 ERA in 14 career starts.

Kazmir has not lost in two months, going 4-0 over his last 10 starts and allowing two runs or fewer seven times during that stretch. He blanked Miami on two hits over six innings in his last outing, the third time in four starts he has not surrendered an earned run. Kazmir will be making his 21st start of the season, the most since he started 28 games with the Angels during the 2010 season.

GAME NOTEBOOK

1. Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera snapped out of a 3-for-29 funk with a pair of run-scoring doubles in Thursday's loss to Detroit.

2. Hamilton is 3-for-14 in his career against Kazmir.

3. Indians C Carlos Santana is 5-for-9 lifetime versus Weaver.

PREDICTION: Angels 3, Indians 2