Tigers at Indians
The Cleveland Indians have seen their offense kick it up a notch during their four-game winning streak, highlighted by a 12-run eruption in their last contest. The Indians (40-33) aim to continue their good fortune on Friday when they open a three-game series versus the visiting Detroit Tigers (36-39), who have dropped seven straight in Cleveland.
Jose Ramirez belted a three-run shot in Wednesday's 12-0 rout of the Chicago White Sox, boosting his home-run total to 22 to tie for fourth in Indians' history for the most through the team's first 73 games in a season. The 25-year-old Dominican has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games overall and is 12-for-37 with three homers versus Detroit this season, against which Cleveland has won seven of the 10 encounters. The Tigers moved into second place in the division on the strength of a five-game winning streak before their interleague struggles continued with back-to-back losses to Cincinnati. Detroit owns just a 13-22 mark away from Comerica Park this season and a 6-20 record in its last 26 at Progressive Field.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, SportsTIme Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Mike Fiers (5-3, 4.09 ERA) vs. Indians RH Shane Bieber (1-0, 3.97)
Fiers was left with his second straight no-decision and fourth in five outings last Friday after permitting three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings against the White Sox. The 33-year-old has pitched well versus Cleveland this season, yielding one run on three hits in six innings of a 6-3 victory on May 14 before allowing a run in seven frames of a no-decision on June 9. Jose Ramirez (6-for-16) and Yonder Alonso (6-for-18) have flustered Fiers, although the hurler has done the same to Jason Kipnis (2-for-16) and Edwin Encarnacion (2-for-16).
Recalled from Triple-A Columbus, Bieber secured his first career major-league win on Sunday after allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-1 triumph over Minnesota. "It was hectic," the 23-year-old said of being told about his promotion Saturday evening. "They said go pack what you need and get on the road as soon as possible." Bieber, who is a fourth-round pick of the 2016 draft out of UC Santa Barbara, is battling Adam Plutko for final spot in the rotation as Carlos Carrasco deals with a bruised right elbow.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit RF Nicholas Castellanos, who is batting a team-best .302 this season, is just 6-for-37 versus Cleveland this season.
2. Encarnacion is 2-for-21 versus the Tigers this season.
3. Detroit SS Jose Iglesias is 7-for-16 with three RBIs during his four-game hitting streak.