Cleveland @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 4, 2009 ) Cleveland 4, Houston 3
The Cleveland Indians attempt to maintain their hold on first place in the American League Central on Friday when they begin a 10-game road trip against the Houston Astros in the opener of their three-game interleague series. Cleveland enters with a three-game winning streak that put it one-half game ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the division. The Indians outscored the Cincinnati Reds 21-12 during their three-game series sweep.
Houston is continuing its 10-game homestand during which it is 1-2. The Astros, who have lost five of six overall, scored a total of one run in back-to-back losses to Kansas City after posting a 9-7 victory in the series opener. Houston has lost four of its last five home games and 12 of 18 overall.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FSN (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: RH Ubaldo Jimenez (6-5, 5.00 ERA) vs. Astros RH Lucas Harrell (6-5, 5.07)
Jimenez has posted just one victory in his last four starts. He is coming off a loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday in which he allowed four runs and seven hits over six innings. The 28-year-old Jimenez is 3-3 with a 6.21 ERA in seven road starts this season but has yet to lose to Houston in his career, going 3-0 with a 2.27 ERA in five outings.
Harrell has surrendered four or more runs in five of his last six starts, yielding a total of 28 runs over 36 2/3 innings during that span. The 27-year-old was tagged for five runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss at Texas on Saturday. Harrell has been strong at home this year, posting a 4-0 record and 2.76 ERA in five starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston's Jed Lowrie leads all major league shortstops with 13 home runs and a .498 slugging percentage.
2. The Indians and Astros have not met since July 17, 2001 in Houston.
3. Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis is first in most of the team's offensive categories, including home runs (11), RBIs (41), runs (46) and stolen bases (17).