Cleveland @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2018 ) Cleveland 9, Texas 8

Bartolo Colon attempts to become the winningest Latin American pitcher in baseball history when the Texas Rangers host the Cleveland Indians on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. The 45-year-old right-hander is tied with Nicaragua's Dennis Martinez with 245 career victories as he looks to help the Rangers bounce back from Friday's 9-8, 11-inning loss.

Colon is making his third attempt at setting the mark after suffering losses in back-to-back starts against Detroit and Boston. Rangers All-Star Shin-Soo Choo went 2-for-6 with a walk to extend his streak of reaching base to 52 consecutive games, seven shy of Will Clark's franchise-record streak that began in 1995 and concluded in 1996. Indians All-Star Jose Ramirez established a new career best with his 30th homer - also the most in the majors - while Jason Kipnis hit a two-run shot as part of three-RBI effort. Edwin Encarnacion went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and delivered the game-winning single in the 11th inning as Cleveland boosted its lead over Minnesota in the American League Central to 8 1/2 games.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (11-5, 4.12 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Bartolo Colon (5-7, 4.64)

Carrasco has won three straight decisions and five of his last six. The 31-year-old has posted a stellar 1.02 WHIP in eight road starts while going 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA and limiting batters to a .222 average. Carrasco is 2-3 with a porous 6.64 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) against Texas and has struggled with Elvis Andrus (6-for-16, one homer, eight RBIs).

Colon allowed three earned runs in both of his consecutive losses - he pitched eight innings against Detroit and six versus Boston. The veteran has given up three earned runs or fewer in five straight outings and 12 of his 17 turns this season. Colon is 7-5 with a 4.07 ERA in 14 career starts against the Indians, the franchise for which he pitched from 1997-2002.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers OF Joey Gallo went deep twice in the opener - including a game-tying, 472-foot blast in the ninth - for his second multi-homer performance of the campaign.

2. Cleveland added LHP Brad Hand and RHP Adam Cimber to the active roster after acquiring them from San Diego on Thursday, purchased the contract of OF Melky Cabrera and recalled 3B Yandy Diaz from Triple-A Columbus, optioned OF Greg Allen, RHP Adam Plutko and LHP Tyler Olson to the same affiliate and transferred OF Lonnie Chisenhall (calf) to the 60-day disabled list.

3. Texas placed Nomar Mazara (thumb) on the 10-day DL and recalled fellow OF Willie Calhoun from Triple-A Round Rock.

PREDICTION: Indians 7, Rangers 3