Tampa Bay @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 1, Cleveland 3

The Cleveland Indians are trying to go into the All-Star break with some momentum as they attempt to track down the Chicago White Sox in the American league Central. The Tampa Bay Rays are just hoping to stay above .500 at the break. The Rays have dropped eight of their last 11 and managed only four hits in a 3-1 loss to the Indians in Thursday’s series opener. Cleveland has won three straight and five of six while pounding the ball.

The Indians have averaged 8.0 runs in their last six wins and pushed all three across on solo homers Thursday. Travis Hafner returned to the lineup on Wednesday and has already pitched in a homer. The Rays are having trouble pushing anything across. They wasted a strong start by Jeremy Hellickson on Thursday and have been held to 2.9 runs in the last 11 games. The symbol of Tampa Bay’s recent offensive futility has been Luke Scott, who set a club record on Thursday by stretching his hitless streak to 0-for-39.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SUN (Tampa Bay), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Cobb (3-5, 4.94 ERA) vs. Indians RH Justin Masterson (5-7, 3.92 ERA)

Cobb has been getting knocked around lately, allowing at least four earned runs in five of his last six starts. The rookie right-hander has been tagged for 13 runs - 12 earned - and 21 hits in 13 1/3 innings over his last two turns, both losses. Cobb recorded just four strikeouts in that span.

Masterson is coming off a win at Baltimore in which he allowed one earned run and struck out seven without walking a batter in seven innings. The 27-year-old has allowed one or no earned runs in four of his last five starts. Masterson has never had much success against the Rays, however, owning a 1-6 record with a 6.80 ERA in 11 games (seven starts). Carlos Pena has homered twice off Masterson.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Shin-Soo Choo homered to lead off the first inning on Thursday and has hit in eight straight games for Cleveland.

2. Scott is hoping to avoid Eugenio Velez’s major league-record 0-for-46 drought.

3. Injured Tampa Bay OF Matt Joyce was sent home from a rehab stint with a stiff back.