Detroit @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2019 ) Cleveland 2, Detroit 0

The Cleveland Indians look to keep themselves in the hunt for an American League playoff spot and continue their dominance in the season series when they host the major league-worst Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night to open a three-game set. The Indians are 1 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the league’s second wild card and trail Minnesota by five games in the AL Central after dropping two of three at home against the Twins last weekend.

“We’re going to keep fighting,” Cleveland pitcher Shane Bieber told reporters. “There are a lot of things you can control. All you can really focus on is what we’re doing and going out and winning every game that we can. You have to come to the field every day with that mentality that every day is a must win and we’ll see how things play out.” Adam Plutko gets the ball for the Indians in the series opener as they go after a 15th straight victory over the Tigers this season after splitting the first two matchups of 2019. Detroit did not immediately name a starter for Tuesday’s contest after knocking off Baltimore 5-2 on Monday to split a four-game series and the Tigers are better on road (24-50) than they have been at home (21-54) this season. Detroit’s Harold Castro, who was rested in Monday’s contest, takes a five-game hitting streak (12-for-23) into the series against Cleveland and is batting .423 in September.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers TBD vs. Indians RH Adam Plutko (6-4, 4.42 ERA)

The Tigers have scratched left-hander Matthew Boyd from his scheduled start Tuesday due to personal issues and manager Ron Gardenhire was uncertain who would replace him in the series opener. With Spencer Turnbull and Jordan Zimmermann slated for the final two games of the set, Detroit will likely go with a bullpen game. Drew VerHagen pitched four innings Saturday while Gregory Soto threw 13 pitches on Sunday for the Tigers and both could be called on.

Plutko is winless in three starts since limiting Detroit to one run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings with a career-high nine strikeouts in a win on Aug. 27. The 27-year-old UCLA product has permitted eight runs on 19 hits across 14 2/3 innings over three starts this month with 10 strikeouts and seven walks. Jordy Mercer is 2-for-2 with a homer and a double against Plutko, who is 2-0 with a 4.24 ERA in three starts versus the Tigers this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mercer is 8-for-19 with five RBIs during his five-game hitting streak and is 9-for-27 versus the Indians this year.

2. Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis left Sunday’s game with right wrist discomfort and was scheduled for an MRI on Monday.

3. The Tigers claimed RHP Marcos Diplan off waivers from Minnesota on Monday.

PREDICTION: Indians 8, Tigers 3