Cleveland @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2012 ) LA Angels 3, Cleveland 12

The Los Angeles Angels have lost four of their last five games and are 3-8 in August as they continue their 10-game homestand with three games against the Cleveland Indians. The Angels have fallen two games off the pace in the American League wild-card race, which has four teams in front of them. Even Cy Young Award favorite Jered Weaver isn't immune to losing. He had won his last nine starts - and hadn't lost in 12 outings since May 13 - prior to Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners, which dropped him to 15-2. Rookie phenom Mike Trout, who went 0-for-4 in his season debut April 28 in Cleveland, is 1-for-8 in his last two games after going 1-for-3 with five RBIs in Friday's 6-5 victory over Seatte.

The Angels' C.J. Wilson, who signed a five year, $77.5 million contract during the off-season, hasn't won since June 26 and has fallen into the unusual role of stopper. He will oppose Cleveland's Justin Masterson, who rebounded from two poor performances with a strong one in his last outing. The Indians are coming off a four-game series split with the Boston Red Sox and have lost 13 of their last 16 games. Cleveland, which is opening a nine-game west coast swing, was 50-49 and 3 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot on July 26 before an 11-game losing streak.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Justin Masterson (8-10, 4.38 ERA) vs. Angels LH C.J. Wilson (9-8, 3.34)

Masterson allowed two runs, three hits, walked four and struck out seven in seven innings in the Indians' 6-2 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday. He allowed 17 runs (15 earned) and 17 hits in 9.2 innings in his previous two outings as his ERA rose by more than one-half run. Masterson is 3-6 with a 6.68 ERA on the road. He is 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in nine games (six starts) against the Angels and didn't receive a decision in Cleveland's 3-2 victory on April 27. The Angels' roster is hitting .186 against him, although Torii Hunter is 5-for-15 with three homers.

Wilson hasn't won in eight starts and is 0-4 during that stretch. He allowed six runs (three earned), nine hits and walked five in five innings in Los Angeles' 10-4 loss at Oakland on Tuesday. Wilson's previous start - a no-decision - was worse, when he yielded eight runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 15-9 setback at Texas on Aug. 2. Wilson is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 22 appearances (four starts), including 1-0 with a no-decision in two starts last season. The Indians' roster is hitting .186 against him, with Shin-Soo Choo 2-for-8 (homer).

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles 1B Albert Pujols went 0-for-12 in the Seattle series and is 1-for-23 in his last six games.

2. Cleveland RHP Josh Tomlin, who dropped from the rotation on July 31 and allowed seven runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief in the Indians' 14-1 loss to Boston on Sunday, will not make the trip. Instead, he will have his right elbow examined in Cleveland.

3. Trout nearly robbed an opponent of a home run for the fourth time this season, but Jesus Montero's solo shot Sunday carried just over Trout's glove.