Indians at Astros
The defending World Series champion Houston Astros boast an eye-popping ERA of 2.44 that is nearly a run better than anyone else as it prepares to host the Cleveland Indians for a three-game series beginning Friday. Houston, which has allowed 13 runs while going 7-2 in its last nine games, owns the three lowest ERAs in the American League in Justin Verlander (1.05), Gerrit Cole (1.75) and Charlie Morton (2.03), who will start Friday.
Morton has won seven straight decisions dating to 2017 - eight in a row during the regular season - and opposes Mike Clevinger, who is also undefeated in 2018 with quality starts in his last three outings. "I try not to get too far ahead of myself and I try not to let outings dictate how I feel about myself because I think that's a way to get in trouble,'' Morton told reporters. "If you let a bad outing get to you too much or you let a good outing get to you too much it's not a good thing. ..." The marquee series pits teams that will likely be involved in the postseason as Cleveland, despite spinning its wheels at 21-21, leads a weak AL Central Division while the Astros (28-17) sit atop the West. The Indians split their last six games against Central rivals Kansas City and Detroit since top reliever Andrew Miller returned from the disabled list, but he has allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings during that span to help Cleveland's MLB-worst bullpen ERA balloon to 5.68.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (3-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (5-0, 2.03)
Clevinger, who has thrown 231 pitches in his last two starts, allowed two runs and eight hits while striking out five over 7 2/3 innings of a 6-2 victory over Kansas City on Saturday. The 27-year-old Floridian, who is 10-5 with a 3.22 ERA in 24 appearances (19 starts) on the road, set career highs with 10 strikeouts and 116 pitches in his previous start - a no-decision when he yielded two runs, one hit and four walks across 7 1/3 innings of Cleveland's 7-4 loss against the Yankees in New York. No Houston player has more than four at-bats versus Clevinger, who is 1-1 with a 1.04 ERA in two starts versus the Astros.
Morton struck out a career-high 14 - the third time he's fanned 10 or more this season - while permitting one run and four hits in seven innings of a 6-1 victory over Texas on Saturday. The 34-year-old New Jersey native, who was a personal-best 14-7 last season, has allowed two or fewer runs in six of his eight starts this season. Jason Kipnis and Edwin Encarnacion have gone deep in a combined nine at-bats versus Morton, who is 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA in two starts versus Cleveland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians LF Michael Brantley (.338) is 12-for-31 with three of his six home runs and 11 of his 28 RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.
2. Houston SS Carlos Correa (.281) is hitting .180 in May after entering the month batting .315.
3. Cleveland has won 24 of the 34 meetings since the Astros joined the AL in 2013, including five of six last season.