Indians at Tigers
The Detroit Tigers have a chance to win back-to-back series for the first time in more than a month when they host the American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians in the finale Sunday afternoon. The Tigers took two out of three at Kansas City to start the week and four pitchers limited the Indians to five hits in a 2-1 victory Saturday that evened the series at a game apiece.
Detroit’s JaCoby Jones provided all the offense with a two-run homer in the third inning, but later left the contest with lower-back tightness, and veteran Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to six games (10-for-22). Jordan Zimmermann takes an 0-4 record and 10.57 ERA against the Indians into Sunday’s matchup and Cleveland counters with ace Corey Kluber, who has struggled a bit lately. The Indians fell to 29-14 against division opponents and 11-4 versus the Tigers this year with the setback and will have to get Jose Ramirez going again as the All-Star third baseman is 0-for-14 with nine walks in his last six games. Fellow All-Star Michael Brantley is 4-for-9 in the series for Cleveland after recording two of his team’s hits Saturday in his 1,000th major league game to improve his batting average to a team-best .304.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (12-6, 2.88 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (4-2, 3.97)
Kluber was hampered by a two-out error that led to four unearned runs last Monday but gave up seven in all along with nine hits over five innings in a loss to Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old two-time Cy Young winner is winless in three starts overall, yielding 13 runs across 11 1/3 innings. Martinez is 15-for-49 with three homers versus Kluber, who is 2-0 this year and 10-7 in his career with a 3.67 ERA against the Tigers.
Zimmermann lost his last two starts while allowing eight runs on 18 hits (four homers) and two walks over 11 2/3 innings combined after going unbeaten in his first 11 outings. The 32-year-old Wisconsin native, who owns a 2.59 ERA at home as opposed to 5.15 on the road, lasted just two-thirds of an inning April 11 against Cleveland before getting hit in the jaw by a line drive. Yonder Alonso is 6-for-16 with three homers versus Zimmermann.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Indians placed CF Tyler Naquin (hip strain) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Adam Plutko on Saturday.
2. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor owns six homers - two in the series opener - and 13 RBIs against Detroit this season.
3. The Tigers claimed LHP Josh Smoker off waivers from Pittsburgh on Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Toledo.