Baltimore @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2013 ) Baltimore 7, Cleveland 2

The Baltimore Orioles turned the page after a difficult August and they like what they see in the first two days of September from their offense. The Orioles look to win their third straight in the month when they visit the struggling Cleveland Indians on Tuesday in the second of a three-game series. Baltimore has scored seven runs in each in the last two games, getting production from throughout the lineup, to pull within two games of Tampa Bay for the second American League wild-card spot.

Matt Wieters had four hits in the 7-2 victory Monday, sending the Indians to their sixth defeat in their last seven games. Cleveland has scored 16 runs in that span and No. 1 starter Justin Masterson (sore left rib cage) was injured in the first game of the series. Nick Swisher was 0-for-4 on Monday and has five hits in 27 at-bats without an RBI over the last seven games for the Indians.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (15-4, 3.61 ERA) vs. Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (9-9, 3.95)

Tillman, who is 24-7 in the last two seasons, allowed two runs over seven solid innings to beat Boston on Thursday for his first victory in five starts. The 25-year-old yielded 10 runs in 35 innings during that span with 32 strikeouts and seven walks. Swisher is 5-for-17 with a homer versus Tillman, who is 2-1 in career four starts against Cleveland with a 4.79 ERA including a win June 25.

Jimenez lost four of his five starts in August despite a 3.10 ERA, including defeats in his last two when he surrendered five runs over 13 innings. The right-hander faced Baltimore for the first time June 24 and gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings in a victory. J.J. Hardy is 3-for-8 with a home run against Jimenez, who struck out a season-high 10 in the each of his last two starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland LF Michael Brantley is 10-for-25 during his seven-game hitting streak after recording a double and two singles Monday.

2. Hardy is one home run shy of becoming the ninth shortstop since 1901 (fourth active) to have three or more seasons with at least 25 homers.

3. Indians OF Ryan Raburn is expected to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday after missing 13 games with soreness in his left heel and Achilles tendon.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Orioles 3