Cleveland @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2018 ) Cleveland 16, Texas 3

The American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians look to continue their offensive surge and complete a three-game sweep when they visit the struggling Texas Rangers for the finale Sunday afternoon. The Indians have accumulated 25 runs on 38 hits - 17 for extra bases - to win the first two contests of the series and won four of the last five to increase their lead in the Central to 9 1/2 games.

Jose Ramirez, who leads the majors with 30 homers, has been swinging the hottest bat for the Indians of late, going 15-for-31 with six blasts and 13 RBIs during his current eight-game hitting streak - with multiple hits in seven of those outings. Cleveland’s Mike Clevinger hopes for more offensive support from a team that is averaging eight runs over its last nine games when he takes the mound Sunday opposite Yovani Gallardo, who will make his sixth start of the season. The Rangers have dropped seven of their last eight contests and are 3-12 in July after allowing 31 runs in the last three contests of a four-game losing streak. Shin-Soo Choo, one of the bright spots for the Texas this season, went 0-for-4 on Saturday to end a franchise-record 52-game on-base streak.

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (7-5, 3.47 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 8.60)

Clevinger struggled in his last two starts, permitting 10 runs - nine earned - and 14 hits while registering 19 strikeouts in 12 innings. The 27-year-old Floridian owns a 4-2 record and 2.61 ERA in nine road starts this year compared to 3-3 with a 4.26 mark at home. Clevinger held Texas to three runs over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision on May 1 and is 0-0 with a 2.30 ERA in four career games (two starts) against the Rangers.

Gallardo has won three of his four decisions since being re-acquired but owns a 6.75 ERA in those five starts during his second stint with the Rangers. The 32-year-old Mexican gave up six runs and seven hits over five innings at Boston in his last start on July 10 after winning three in a row. Edwin Encarnacion is 9-for-25 with three homers and six walks against Gallardo, who is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two career games versus Cleveland.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre belted his 467th career homer Saturday, pulling within one of Chipper Jones for 33rd place on the all-time list.

2. Cleveland 3B Yandy Diaz is 5-for-7 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs in his first two games since being recalled.

3. Rangers OF Willie Calhoun, who was acquired in the Yu Darvish trade last year, is 2-for-10 since being recalled this week.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Rangers 3