Tigers at Indians
The Cleveland Indians are still working on their offensive woes, but they can move over .500 for the first time this season when they host the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night for the second of a four-game series. The Indians managed just four hits, including Bradley Zimmer’s two-run blast, while reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber struck out 13 in a 2-0 victory over the Tigers on Monday to extend their win streak to three.
Cleveland, which finished with the best record in the American League last season, are batting just .158 as a team in the first 10 games while its four key hitters - Jose Ramirez (.086), Jason Kipnis (.108), Edwin Encarnacion (.171) and Francisco Lindor (.175) - are all struggling. Left-hander Matt Boyd hopes to keep it that way when he takes the mound for the Tigers on Tuesday and the Indians will counter with veteran righty Josh Tomlin, who was pounded in his first start. Detroit has been up and down with the bats, scoring at least six runs five times and getting shut out in three other games with the only other outing being a 1-0 victory. Miguel Cabrera boasts 45 homers and 151 RBIs - both the most against any team in the majors - and is batting .333 lifetime against the Indians, but is 2-for-16 in his last five games after going hitless in four at-bats Monday.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Matt Boyd (0-1, 1.50 ERA) vs. Indians RH Josh Tomlin (0-1, 24.00)
Boyd was a hard-luck loser in his 2017 debut, allowing one run on four hits over six innings without walking a batter last Tuesday against Kansas City in a 1-0 setback. The 27-year-old Oregon State product was 6-11 with a 5.27 ERA in 26 appearances (25 starts) last season, but pitched very well at Progressive Field (1-1, 1.26). Lindor is 6-for-14 with a home run versus Boyd, who is 1-2 with a 1.91 ERA in five career outings (four starts) against the Indians.
Tomlin gave up four homers in his season debut last Tuesday, yielding eight runs overall - six in the first inning - and eight hits over three frames against the Los Angeles Angels. The 33-year-old Texas Tech product was outstanding after the All-Star break last year when he went 5-0 to finish with double-figure victories for the third time. Nicholas Castellanos (10-for-29, homer) and Cabrera (10-for-27, two homers) have hit well against Tomlin, who is 7-6 with a 5.19 ERA lifetime versus the Tigers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Castellanos has hit safely in seven of nine games this season and is batting .324 overall.
2. Cleveland RHP Cody Allen and LHP Andrew Miller have not allowed a run over 9 2/3 innings combined with three saves.
3. Tigers SS Jose Iglesias is off to a rough start with just two hits in 29 at-bats, one RBI and six strikeouts.