Indians at Orioles
Cleveland Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco has been handcuffing the opposition with a sterling 9-0 mark and 1.75 ERA in his past 11 starts, dating back to last season. Carrasco looks to keep the sputtering Baltimore Orioles in shackles on Monday when the Indians visit Camden Yards to complete their four-game series.
Jose Ramirez posted his seventh multi-homer performance of his career with a solo shot in the fourth inning and a two-run blast in the ninth on Sunday as Cleveland (11-8) posted its second straight win with a 7-3 triumph. The 25-year-old Dominican has gone deep three times in as many days and on six occasions in his last nine outings for the Indians, who erupted for 14 hits after entering the contest with just a .211 team batting average. Baltimore (6-16) isn't singing a happy tune with losses in eight of nine outings, including Sunday's tilt in which it failed to capitalize on Manny Machado's third multi-homer performance of the season. "You know what? There's no excuse for what's happening," the 25-year-old Machado told reporters. "We need to play better overall. Nobody is in here pointing fingers. We are in here together, and we are going to ride or die together."
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (3-0, 2.60 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (1-1, 5.57)
Carrasco recorded three straight wins before being saddled with a hard-luck no-decision in Puerto Rico on Monday despite scattering three hits and striking out seven in seven scoreless innings versus Minnesota. The 31-year-old Venezuelan has surrendered just three earned runs and 11 hits during his last three outings (22 innings). Adam Jones is batting just .167 against Carrasco, who sports a 2-2 mark with 2.88 ERA in five career appearances versus Baltimore.
Gausman notched his second straight quality start on Wednesday after overcoming two solo homers to pick up a no-decision at Detroit. The 27-year-old, who owns a 2-2 mark with a 2.53 ERA in four career appearances versus Cleveland, has credited his recent strong performances to altering his delivery by bringing his hands over his head during his windup. "I was doing my dry throws and started messing around with it and it felt really good," Gausman told reporters. "Felt like I was landing in the same spot every time and like I was really reaching toward home plate."
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland LF Michael Brantley is 14-for-33 with one homer and six RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.
2. Baltimore 1B Chris Davis has five hits in his last five contests after striking out 10 times in his previous four.
3. Indians C Yan Gomes is riding an eight-game hitting streak that is stretched over two weeks.