Pittsburgh @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2015 ) Cleveland 3, Pittsburgh 5

The Pittsburgh Pirates look to register a double-digit winning streak for the first time since 2004 when they visit the American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians on Monday for the opener of their three-game interleague series. The Pirates have produced 40 runs over their last five contests and moved two games over .500 (51-49) for the first time since June 2 with their ninth straight win, a 9-2 triumph at Cincinnati on Sunday.

Starling Marte has recorded six home runs and 15 RBIs during his career-high 15-game hitting streak for Pittsburgh and Corey Dickerson has homered in four consecutive contests, going 10-for-21 with five blasts and seven RBIs in the process. The Pirates will test their red-hot offense when they face two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber in the series opener on Monday. The Indians (54-44) scored a total of 25 runs in their first two contests after the All-Star break but were shut out 5-0 by veteran Yovani Gallardo and three relievers on Sunday to keep their division lead at 9 1/2 games. Major League home run leader Jose Ramirez (30) went 15-for-31 with six blasts and 13 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak that came to an end on Sunday, when he walked twice and was hit by a pitch while flying out in his only official at-bat.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (7-7, 4.36 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (12-5, 2.76)

Williams snapped his three-start losing streak in his last outing on July 11, limiting Washington to four hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in a 2-0 win. The 26-year-old Arizona State product had given up 12 runs over 13 frames while going 0-3 and was 2-6 in 12 turns before beating the Nationals. Williams will be making his first career appearance against the Indians but is 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA in seven interleague starts, including a 2-0 mark this year.

Kluber has been up and down in his last six outings, with three quality starts and three in which he allowed a total of 16 runs. The 32-year-old native of Alabama, who received an injection in his knee on July 13 that kept him out of the All-Star Game, permitted six runs and eight hits over 7 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees one day earlier. Dickerson is 4-for-12 versus Kluber, who will face the Pirates for the first time but is 13-6 with a 2.57 ERA in interleague play.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland 1B-DH Edwin Encarnacion was rested on Sunday but is 6-for-13 with a home run and five RBIs in his last three contests.

2. Pittsburgh RF Gregory Polanco has collected four homers and seven RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.

3. The Pirates last visited Cleveland in 2012 and took two of three at home in the most recent matchup between the teams in 2015.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Pirates 2