Cleveland @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2011 ) Cleveland 3, Baltimore 8
The Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles are each stumbling into their four-game weekend series in rough shape. The Indians suffered their fifth straight loss on Wednesday and are 1-8 in their last nine road games. The Orioles have lost six of eight while averaging 1.5 runs. The collective slumps have allowed the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees to pull away in their respective divisions.The Indians are having some problems offensively as well, topping out at four runs over the last five contests. Carlos Santana is 1-for-16 over his last six games and Asdrubal Cabrera and Jason Kipnis are also struggling. The Orioles were crushed, 13-1, on Wednesday as Jason Hammel’s All-Star bid took a hit. Slugger Adam Jones has one extra-base hit in the last eight games and Chris Davis is 1-for-31 over the last nine contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Zach McAllister (1-1, 3.96 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (7-3, 3.38)
McAllister will be recalled from Triple-A to make the start, beginning his second stint in the majors this season. The 24-year old is replacing Jeanmar Gomez, who was demoted earlier in the week. McAllister, who struck out 22 in 25 innings with Cleveland during four starts in May, was 5-2 with a 2.98 ERA at Triple-A Columbus.
Chen had a three-start winning streak snapped last time out, when he allowed three runs - two earned - and six hits in five innings against the Washington Nationals. The Taiwanese lefty has posted a 2.49 ERA in his last four starts and is 4-1 with a 2.82 ERA in seven starts this season at Camden Yards.
WALK-OFFS
1. Baltimore 1B/DH Nick Johnson left Wednesday’s game with a right wrist injury. Johnson had surgery on that wrist in 2010.
2. Cleveland took five of seven from the Orioles last season.
3. Santana is suffering from tightness in his mid-back and had to be lifted for a pinch hitter in the ninth on Wednesday. He will be evaluated on Thursday.