Cleveland @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2018 ) Cleveland 2, Toronto 3
Billy McKinney has made a positive impression since coming over in the J.A. Happ trade and looks to extend his hitting streak to eight games when the Toronto Blue Jays host the Cleveland Indians on Saturday afternoon. McKinney has reached base in all 16 games with an at-bat since being acquired from the New York Yankees - the third-longest streak for a player starting his career with the Blue Jays.
McKinney is batting .351 since joining Toronto after going 1-for-4 on Friday while fellow outfielder Kevin Pillar ended up the hero as he broke out of a 1-for-21 slump with two hits, including a walk-off solo homer in the 11th inning for a 3-2 win. Sean Reid-Foley looks to seal the season series (Blue Jays lead 3-2 with two games remaining) when he takes the mound Saturday, while Cleveland counters with fellow rookie Adam Plutko. The American League Central-leading Indians saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Friday while going just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position to leave their magic number for clinching the division at seven. Cleveland’s All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor was cooled off Friday as he went 0-for-5, but he still has four homers in five games and already equaled his career high with 33 blasts.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Adam Plutko (4-5, 5.04 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Sean Reid-Foley (1-2, 5.51)
Plutko is winless in his last seven trips to the mound after allowing four runs on seven hits (three homers) in a loss to Kansas City on Monday. The 26-year-old UCLA product struck out a career-high eight in that contest and has fanned 23 in his past 22 2/3 frames. Plutko made his 2018 debut against Toronto, giving up three solo homers among six hits over 7 1/3 innings - one blast by Aledmys Diaz.
Reid-Foley makes his home debut after limiting Miami to one run and four hits with 10 strikeouts in his first major-league win Sunday. The 23-year-old native of Guam had served up four homers and six walks in his first two starts before keeping the ball in the park against Miami and walking just one. Reid-Foley was 12-5 with a 3.26 ERA in 24 starts at Triple-A and Double-A this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland 3B Jose Ramirez needs one stolen base to become the third player in team history to record at least 30 homers and 30 steals.
2. Toronto 1B Rowdy Tellez is 6-for-10 with six doubles and three RBIs in his first three major-league contests.
3. Indians LHP Andrew Miller (left shoulder) is scheduled to throw a side session on Saturday.
PREDICTION: Indians 8, Blue Jays 4