New York @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2013 ) NY Mets 4, Cleveland 9
The Cleveland Indians’ offense is starting to click on all cylinders, which bodes well for their chances to complete a three-game home sweep of the New York Mets on Sunday. Since Monday’s loss to fellow American League wild-card hopeful Baltimore, Cleveland has totaled 27 runs during a four-game winning streak. The Indians, who along with the Orioles trail Tampa Bay by one game for the second wild card, are 15-for-39 with runners in scoring position over the last four contests.
Cleveland, which hasn't won five in a row since a season-best eight-game run from July 24-Aug. 1, outscored New York 17-5 over the first two games of the series. The Mets, who have lost five of six overall and five straight interleague games, don’t appear to be in a good position to stop their slide as Daisuke Matsuzaka has allowed 15 runs in 12 1/3 innings since joining the club. Rookie Juan Lagares has been one bright spot for New York, however, batting .370 during a 12-game hitting streak.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-3, 10.95 ERA) vs. Indians RH Danny Salazar (1-2, 3.00)
Unable to crack the Indians’ roster after going 5-8 with a 3.92 ERA at Triple-A Columbus, Matsuzaka draws his first start against the organization from which he requested his release on Aug. 20. The 32-year-old turned in the worst of his three outings with New York in Monday’s 13-5 loss against Atlanta, surrendering six runs over three frames. Matsuzaka is 4-2 with a 2.72 ERA in six career starts against the Indians but hasn’t faced them since 2011.
Salazar is coming off the best of his six major-league starts but settled for a no-decision in last Sunday’s 4-0 victory despite yielding six hits and striking out five over six scoreless innings. The 23-year-old rookie has not exceeded 77 pitches or six frames in any of his last four turns. Salazar, who has allowed one run and held opponents to a .190 average in two day games, will make only his second start against a National League opponent.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland’s starting rotation has a combined 2.20 ERA in September.
2. Mets LF Eric Young Jr. has seven stolen bases in his last 10 games and has a major league-leading 20 since the All-Star break.
3. Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera’s three-run homer on Saturday was his first since Aug. 9 and snapped an 0-for-17 skid.
PREDICTION: Indians 8, Mets 2