Baltimore @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2012 ) Baltimore 4, Cleveland 3

The Baltimore Orioles are going back to what works, getting strong starting pitching and a home run here and there to pull out tight games. After falling off the map early last week, the Orioles have jumped back into playoff contention with five straight wins. They will be looking for a four-game sweep when they close out a series at the Cleveland Indians on Monday. The Indians have fallen below .500 (47-48) with four straight losses.

Baltimore has built its recent run on starting pitching, receiving a quality start in each of its last five games. Tommy Hunter, who began the trend, will try to make it six on Monday. Cleveland has not put up much resistance and has been held to three runs or fewer in eight of 10 games since the All-Star break. That slump has dropped the Indians off the pace in the American League Central, where they now sit 4½ games behind the Detroit Tigers.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Tommy Hunter (4-4, 5.71 ERA) vs. Indians RH Justin Masterson (6-8, 4.29)

Hunter was given another opportunity in the Baltimore rotation due to injury and made the most of it last week, allowing one run and six hits over 7 1/3 innings to beat Minnesota in one of his best outings this season. The right-hander has bounced around between the rotation, the bullpen and the minors this season and let his defense do most of the work against the Twins, striking out one. Hunter was slammed for five runs and eight hits in 1 2/3 innings by Cleveland on June 20, prompting a trip to the minors.

Masterson can’t seem to find any consistency. The right-hander has allowed four runs or more in three of his last five starts while surrendering a total of one in the other two. The bad Masterson was on display at Tampa Bay last week, with the sinkerball specialist issuing seven walks to go along with four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. One of the good starts was against the Orioles on July 1, when he allowed one earned run over seven innings and did not walk a batter.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians LHP Rafael Perez (left lat) will continue a rehab assignment at Class AA Akron on Monday. He has not pitched in the majors since April 25.

2. The Orioles are expected to give INF Omar Quintanilla, who was acquired in a trade with the Mets on Friday, his first start Monday.

3. Baltimore has not swept a four-game series in Cleveland since 1971.