Los Angeles @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 3, 2012 ) LA Angels 5, Cleveland 9
The Los Angeles Angels are the more high-profile team, but the Cleveland Indians are looking like playoff contenders, too. After handing the Angels a rare road loss, the Indians will try to claim the three-game series when it wraps up Wednesday at Progressive Field. Los Angeles lost for just the fourth time in its last 20 road games in Tuesday's 9-5 defeat, and the Angels are trying to avoid dropping a road series for the first time since losing two of three at San Diego from May 18-20. Los Angeles is five games behind American League West leader Texas.
The Indians, who are two games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central, hope veteran right-hander Derek Lowe can regain the form he showed early in the season, including a dominant performance against the Angels in which he and two relievers combined on a three-hit shutout April 29.
Cleveland DH Travis Hafner is expected to rejoin the team Wednesday. Hafner has not played since May 23 after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He is hitting .242 with six home runs and 23 RBIs.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Ervin Santana (4-8, 5.12 ERA) vs. Indians RH Derek Lowe (7-6, 4.42)
Santana had put together two strong outings before another rough one Friday at Toronto in which he allowed five runs in five innings. Santana has surrendered 19 home runs in 16 starts. Santana is 1-7 with a 4.13 ERA in 12 starts against the Indians. He took a tough-luck loss at Cleveland on April 29, allowing two runs over seven innings in the 4-0 loss.
Lowe's great start to the season - he had a 2.05 ERA through his first eight starts on May 15 - has gone by the wayside. In his last eight outings, he is 1-5 with a 7.33 ERA. He allowed seven runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings Friday at Baltimore, but he didn't factor in the decision. Lowe is 7-8 with a 3.05 ERA in 31 games (15 starts) against the Angels.
WALK-OFFS
1. Despite the worst bullpen ERA in the American League through Monday (4.43), the Indians are 33-2 when leading after six innings.
2. Indians OF Michael Brantley has hit safely in 35 of his last 38 starts. he is 4-for-13 (.308) with a double against Lowe.
3. Angels 2B Howard Kendrick, who is riding a nine-game hitting streak, is 0-for-6 against Lowe.