Baltimore @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 1, 2012 ) Cleveland 6, Baltimore 2

Cleveland and Baltimore both remain in playoff contention, though both teams have faded recently in their respective division races. The Indians, who led the American League Central for a good portion of the first half, have fallen three games back of first-place Chicago. Meanwhile, the Orioles have dropped well back of New York in the AL East but are still just a half-game out of the second wild-card spot.

Both teams have struggled to get consistent pitching this season — the Indians have allowed more runs (446) than all but one American League team, and the Orioles (430) haven't much better. Cleveland and Baltimore have both managed to stay afloat in a packed AL wild-card race despite run differentials of minus-36 and minus-55, respectively. The Orioles rank third in the major leagues with 113 home runs but are still just 21st in runs scored.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (1-1, 2.59 ERA) vs. Indians RH Derek Lowe (8-7, 4.43)

Gonzalez has pitched well since making the leap to the major leagues, posting a 2.31 ERA in 11 2/3 innings of relief before moving into the rotation. He won his first start - giving up just one run in seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels on July 6 - but he was done in by a lack of command in his last outing, walking five in a loss to Detroit on July 15 (5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER).

Lowe got off to a fantastic start this season but has fallen on hard times in recent weeks, allowing at least three runs in each of his last seven starts. Over his last nine outings, the veteran has given up 42 runs and 68 hits in 49 innings, posting a 2-5 record over that span. Lowe avoided a decision in his June 29 start at Baltimore despite allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

WALK-OFFS

1. This will be the second time Gonzalez has faced Cleveland in his brief career — the rookie tossed 4 1/3 innings of relief against the Indians on July 1, giving up one run on four hits.

2. Lowe has pitched against the Orioles 35 times (17 starts), going 8-8 with a 4.49 ERA. Baltimore 1B Mark Reynolds has fared well against him, going 8-for-24 with a homer and five runs batted in.

3. The Orioles have dropped six consecutive series openers, and the Indians have won the last five times that Lowe took the mound in the first game of a series.