Tigers at Indians
Jose Ramirez hopes to build off a good start to the series when his Cleveland Indians go for a fourth consecutive victory Wednesday against the visiting Detroit Tigers in the third contest of their four-game series. Ramirez, who batted .318 with 29 homers and was third in the voting for American League MVP last season, is 3-for-5 with a blast in the series after opening 2018 with just two hits in 33 at-bats.
Ramirez hit a solo shot on Tuesday and Roberto Perez matched him with a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning as the Indians edged the Tigers 2-1 to move over .500 for the first time this season (6-5). Carlos Carrasco will try to extend the streak and win his third game of the year when he takes the mound for Cleveland against Jordan Zimmermann, who is looking for his first win since August. Detroit arrived in Cleveland after sweeping a three-game set at the Chicago White Sox but has produced a total of one run over the first two contests of the series and two in its last three games overall. Rookie third baseman Jeimer Candelario went 3-for-3 with three doubles and an RBI for the Tigers on Tuesday and is 10-for-42 overall in his first full season as a starter.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit Plus, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 8.71 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (2-0, 5.40)
After suffering through a difficult 2017 season in which he went 8-13 with a 6.08 ERA, Zimmermann has yet to find his top form despite avoiding losses in his first two starts. The 31-year-old native of Wisconsin has allowed 10 runs and 15 hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks over 10 1/3 innings thus far this year. Yonder Alonso (6-for-16, three homers) and Jason Kipnis (7-for-10, four RBIs) have hit well against Zimmermann, who is 0-4 with a 10.88 ERA in five career turns versus Cleveland.
Carrasco gave up two runs and five hits over six innings in his home debut Friday against Kansas City for his second victory in two starts this season. The 31-year-old Venezuelan, who recorded a career-best 18 wins in 2017, defeated Seattle on March 31 despite yielding five runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 frames and has struck out eight while walking just one batter in his first two turns. Jose Iglesias is 9-for-25 with five doubles against Carrasco, who went 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA in six starts versus the Tigers last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera needs one RBI to tie Chipper Jones (1,623) for 34th place on the all-time list.
2. Cleveland OF Bradley Zimmer owns the best batting average (.179) among players on the team with at least 25 at-bats this season.
3. The Tigers have scored at least six runs in five games and fewer than two in their other five.