Cleveland @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2018 ) Cleveland 9, Toronto 8

The Cleveland Indians have scored exactly nine runs on three occasions during their current 4-1 run, an impressive trend they'll try to maintain in the finale of a four-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Roberto Perez homered and drove in four runs as the Indians outlasted the Blue Jays 9-8 on Saturday.

Michael Brantley also went deep after being held out of the starting lineup the previous two games due to a sore foot for Cleveland, which reduced its magic number to clinch the American League Central to five. Mike Clevinger has won four straight decisions and is unbeaten since July 28 as he gets set to start the series finale for the Indians. The Blue Jays, losers of nine of their last 13, counter with rookie Thomas Pannone as they look to win the finale of a seven-game homestand. Rowdy Tellez provided a highlight in Saturday's loss for Toronto with his first career home run and Randal Grichuk went deep twice to record his third straight 20-homer campaign.

TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), Sportsnet, OMNI, TVA (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (11-7, 3.11 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Thomas Pannone (1-1, 4.58)

Clevinger worked at least six innings in each of his last four starts while allowing a total of four earned runs in that span. He fanned 10 batters and yielded one run and three hits over six frames to defeat the Kansas City Royals his last time out. Clevinger's shortest start of the year was against Toronto on April 13, when he gave up four runs in four innings.

Pannone will be making his first start since he was rocked for seven runs over 3 1/3 innings at Baltimore on Aug. 28. He made two relief appearances since that outing, yielding three hits in three scoreless frames while fanning four. The 24-year-old rookie has a 1.86 ERA while limiting opponents to a .152 average at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tellez is 8-for-14 with four RBIs in four games since being recalled Wednesday.

2. Indians 3B Josh Donaldson (calf) made his second start for Double-A Akron and could be activated Tuesday in Tampa Bay.

3. The all-time series is tied at 208 wins apiece.

PREDICTION: Indians 8, Blue Jays 3