Indians at Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles opened the month with three straight losses but they have been on a roll since, winning 16 of their last 21 contests to move a season-high five games over .500. The surging Orioles are 8-1 at home in June following Friday's 4-3 victory over Cleveland and look to continue the momentum Saturday night against the visiting Indians.
Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy homered for the first time since May 15 in the series opener and is 7-for-21 with six RBIs over his last five games. Designated hitter Jimmy Paredes is 11-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak and has multiple hits in each of his last four contests while Chris Davis ran his hitting streak to six games with a game-winning RBI single Friday night as the Orioles moved within a game of first-place Tampa Bay in the American League East. Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis is riding a 20-game hitting streak - the longest in the majors this season - and has hit safely in 39 of his last 43. Rookie Cody Anderson makes his second career start for Cleveland against struggling Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Cody Anderson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (5-7, 6.22)
Anderson did not factor in the decision despite turning in a stellar performance in his major-league debut against Tampa Bay on Sunday. The 24-year-old from California tossed 7 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing six hits while striking out four and walking one. "Any time you're in a big stadium for the first time the adrenaline takes over and you don't get as fatigued," Anderson said of his longest outing as a professional.
Tillman appeared on the verge of reversing his early-season doldrums by winning three starts in a row, but the momentum came to a crashing halt in his last outing. Despite being staked to a 7-0 lead, Tillman lasted only 1 1/3 innings and was charged with six runs on six hits, including a pair of home runs. Tillman had one of his best starts versus Cleveland on June 5, earning the victory with 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles LHP Zach Britton has recorded nine saves during the team's 16-5 tear.
2. Kipnis' hitting streak is the longest for Cleveland since Michael Brantley's 22-game string in 2012.
3. Orioles CF Adam Jones (shoulder) has missed eight of the past 10 games and a decision on whether to place him on the disabled list will be made Saturday.