Indians at Cardinals
The Cleveland Indians benefited from a successful homestand to push their winning streak and games over .500 total to a season-high seven and 10 games, respectively. The Indians hope their good fortune travels well as they begin a nine-game road trip with the opener of a three-game interleague series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.
Francisco Lindor homered for the third straight contest and Jose Ramirez went deep as part of his three-hit performance as Cleveland (43-33) cruised to a 12-2 romp of Detroit on Sunday. Ramirez has reached base in a career-high 31 consecutive tilts for the Indians, who outscored the Tigers 26-3 during their three-game sweep to push their American League Central lead to eight games. St. Louis' Jose Martinez showed a glimpse of escaping his pronounced slump by belting a three-run homer in Sunday's 8-2 victory versus Milwaukee. Martinez is 4-for-34 in his last nine games for the Cardinals (40-36), who will host division leaders Cleveland and Atlanta during their six-game homestand.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (6-2, 3.00 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH John Gant (1-2, 4.39)
Clevinger has hit his stride over his last three starts, improving to 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA after allowing one run and striking out 10 over 7 2/3 innings in Tuesday's 6-3 triumph over the Chicago White Sox. The 27-year-old has fanned 21 batters over his last two turns and has 90 strikeouts in 99 frames this season. Clevinger will be making his 47th career start and first versus St. Louis.
Gant was recalled from Triple-A Memphis last week to replace the injured Michael Wacha, who was placed on the disabled list with an oblique strain. The 25-year-old looks to put forth a better performance than his three previous starts with St. Louis, going 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in those outings. Gant surrendered four unearned runs on three hits in two relief innings against Milwaukee on Thursday.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis OF Dexter Fowler went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored on Sunday after going 0-for-12 in his previous five games.
2. Lindor, who recorded his team-best 31st multi-hit performance on Sunday, has 10 runs scored and seven RBIs in his last six contests.
3. The Indians own a 6-2 mark in interleague play this season.