Cincinnati @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 25, 2018 ) Cincinnati 4, Cleveland 6

Francisco Lindor is setting a blistering offensive pace for the Cleveland Indians this season, although the Cincinnati Reds have witnessed the same thing pretty much every time they have crossed paths with the 24-year-old shortstop. The three-time All-Star attempts to bounce back from a rare off-day when the Indians host the opener of a three-game interleague series Monday against the intrastate-rival Reds.

Lindor entered Sunday batting .458 this month and having scored at least one run in seven straight games to boost his total to a major league-best 79, but neither he (0-for-4) nor Cleveland (five hits) could get much going against Oakland in a 6-0 setback in the rubber match of their three-game set. His last game notwithstanding, the No. 8 overall selection in the 2011 draft has been nearly as good in 11 career contests versus the Reds, hitting .412 with five doubles, two homers and seven RBIs. Despite dropping two in a row to the Chicago Cubs over the weekend and sitting in the basement of the National League Central, Cincinnati is 17-8 over its last 25 contests since falling a season-high 21 games below .500 on June 9. Billy Hamilton is coming off a brilliant series against the Cubs in which he went 7-for-10 with two walks, four runs scored and five stolen bases.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (3-1, 5.08 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mike Clevinger (7-3, 3.11)

DeSclafani started fast but failed to factor in the decision Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, surrendering five runs and six hits - three homers - over 5 1/3 innings. The native of New Jersey has permitted nine earned runs over 11 2/3 frames in his last two outings after yielding a total of six across 17 innings during his three-game winning streak in mid-June. DeSclafani made both of his career starts versus Cleveland in 2015, going 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA.

Clevinger notched his third victory in four outings on July 1 at Oakland, permitting three runs and eight hits in six frames while not giving up a homer for the third straight time. The 27-year-old Citadel product is only 11 2/3 innings shy of last season's career high of 121 2/3 and owns a 5-1 record and 2.31 ERA when he has six or more days of rest between starts. Clevinger came away with a no-decision in his major-league debut against Cincinnati in 2016 after yielding four runs across 5 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Lindor was one of five Indians named to the American League All-Star team on Sunday, joining RHPs Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer, OF Michael Brantley and 3B Jose Ramirez.

2. Reds 2B Scooter Gennett and 3B Eugenio Suarez received their first nods to the Midsummer Classic on Sunday, joining teammate and six-time All-Star 1B Joey Votto.

3. Cincinnati's .317 winning percentage at Progressive Field is the club's lowest at any current road ballpark (minimum of 40 games).

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Reds 4