Baltimore @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2013 ) Cleveland 3, Baltimore 7
The Cleveland Indians may have kept themselves in the playoff race with a win on Sunday and can further improve their chances on Monday when they open a three-game home set against the Baltimore Orioles. The Indians moved to within 3 ½ games of Tampa Bay in the race for the second wild card spot in the American League by defeating Detroit. Not only did Cleveland snap a seven-game losing streak to the Tigers with Sunday's victory, but it also closed the gap to 7 ½ games in the AL Central.
With no more games left against Detroit to make up ground in the division, the Indians’ best route to the postseason may be via the wild card, where they are a half-game behind Baltimore for third place. The Orioles won for only the seventh time in 18 games Sunday when exploded for seven unanswered runs in the seventh inning to avoid a three-game road sweep to the New York Yankees. The win also allowed Baltimore to move back ahead of the Yankees in both the wild card and AL East races.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Baltimore), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Bud Norris (9-10, 4.13 ERA) vs. Indians RH Justin Masterson (14-9, 3.49)
Norris settled for a no-decision in Wednesday’s 4-3 road loss to Boston after giving up a run on four hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings. The 28-year-old is 1-1 with a 6.42 ERA since his last quality start on Aug. 6, but the outing was a positive one following a two-game stretch in which he surrendered 11 runs over his previous 10 1/3 innings. Norris has never faced the Indians, but will attempt to improve upon his 3-6 record and 5.01 ERA on the road.
The owner of a 4-2 record with a 2.89 ERA since the Midsummer Classic, Masterson settled for a no-decision in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss at Atlanta after yielding two runs on five hits over six frames. Six of the 28-year-old’s eight outings since the All-Star break have been quality starts, but he has issued four or more free passes in three of his last four turns. Masterson was roughed up for six runs against Baltimore on June 25, but is 6-4 with a 4.71 ERA in 13 all-time appearances (nine starts) versus the Orioles.
WALK-OFFS
1. Baltimore is 2-4 entering the final leg of its nine-game road trip while Cleveland snapped a five-game slide with Sunday’s victory.
2. The Indians have tossed an AL-high 16 shutouts, the second-best mark in the majors.
3. Orioles OF/1B Mike Morse, who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners on Friday, was 2-for-4 and scored a run in his debut on Sunday.
PREDICTION: Indians 5, Orioles 3