Rangers at Indians
Two-time American League Cy Young winner Corey Kluber will try to end a rough stretch on the mound for the Cleveland Indians when he takes the ball against the visiting Texas Rangers in the rubber match of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon. The Indians have allowed 45 runs over the last six games while losing four of them, including an 8-6 decision in 12 innings on Tuesday night.
Kluber earned one of the two Cleveland victories during the last six contests and has won four straight overall for the Indians, who have begun to swing the bats better after a slow start to the season. Cleveland is averaging 5.2 runs during its 2-4 stretch while the Rangers won four of their past six, recording 5.3 tallies per contest, after getting back-to-back solo homers from Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the 12th on Tuesday. Nomar Mazara also knocked in two runs in the victory and boasts 14 RBIs in his last 14 runs for Texas, which still sits at the bottom of the AL West standings. Left-hander Matt Moore gets the start for the Rangers in the finale as they attempt to improve to 3-1-1 in road series.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Southwest (Texas), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Matt Moore (1-3, 5.33 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (4-1, 2.18)
Moore returns to the starting rotation after pitching one scoreless inning April 29 at Toronto and tries to win back-to-back decisions after starting the season with three straight losses. The 28-year-old Florida native allowed six earned runs on 19 hits over 17 innings across the last three starts with 10 strikeouts and seven walks. Francisco Lindor is 6-for-10 with a homer versus Moore, who is 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA in seven career contests against the Indians.
Kluber won each of his last four trips to the mound while allowing seven total runs over 30 1/3 innings with 33 strikeouts and just six walks after beating Seattle last Friday, yielding three tallies across 8 2/3 frames. The 32-year-old Alabama native has permitted 26 hits in 45 1/3 innings overall this season with a .165 batting average against and a 0.77 WHIP. Mazara is 5-for-12 with a homer against Kluber, who is 3-1 with a 3.73 ERA in six career games versus the Rangers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Texas OF Delino DeShields is 8-for-22 during his current five-game hitting streak, raising his average from .174 to .267 in that span.
2. Cleveland LF Michael Brantley belted a grand slam to tie the game in the ninth Tuesday, but is just 2-for-11 in his last three games.
3. Rangers RHP Chris Martin (forearm cramp) was not available Tuesday and may need to go on the disabled list.