Cleveland @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2012 ) Cleveland 11, Baltimore 5

The Baltimore Orioles are desperate for a quality start, but recent history suggests they’ll be hard-pressed to get one Sunday when they host the Cleveland Indians in the finale of their four-game series. Left-hander Brian Matusz has lost four straight outings and has an 8.31 ERA during that span. He will try to pick up the Orioles, who have lost eight of their last 11 games and have seen their starters roughed up in five straight contests.

The Indians, who are 2½ games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central following their 11-5 victory Saturday, have won two of the first three games against the Orioles. Shin-Soo Choo is 8-for-13 with two homers, six RBIs and seven runs scored in the series, including 4-for-5 with four runs and three RBIs on Saturday. Cleveland, which has 35 hits in its last two games, sends Justin Masterson to the mound. He has a 1.55 ERA in his last four starts, but only a 2-2 record to show for it.

The Orioles acquired Jim Thome from the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday for a pair of minor leaguers – right-handed pitcher Kyle Simon and catcher Gabriel Lino. Thome can no longer play first base and is expected to be in the lineup as the designated hitter Sunday. He has 609 career homers, tied with Sammy Sosa for seventh all-time.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), MASN2, WJZ (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Justin Masterson (4-7, 4.09 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Brian Matusz (5-9, 5.24)

Masterson allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings in his last start, a 6-4 loss at the New York Yankees on Tuesday. He had yielded only two runs (one earned) in three previous outings, all against National League teams. Masterson is 1-2 in five games (three starts) at Camden Yards with an 8.14 ERA. The Orioles’ roster, though, is hitting .214 against him, with Adam Jones 1-for-14.

Matusz hasn’t pitched more than 5 2/3 innings in his last starts. He allowed a career-high 13 hits and five runs in five innings in his last outing, a 7-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. The Indians’ roster is hitting .265 against Matusz, with Choo 2-for-6. Matusz is 1-2 in three starts against AL Central teams.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana has missed the last three games (back), but is expected to play Sunday.

2. Baltimore’s Wilson Betemit has a 10-game hitting streak and is 16-for-32 during that span. He is 22-for-45 in his last 14 games.

3. Cleveland is 7-16 against left-handers after beating Wei-Yin Chen on Thursday and Dana Eveland on Saturday.