Cleveland @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2012 ) Miami 5, Cleveland 3

The Cleveland Indians have won 11 straight games at home, but they must improve their 23-29 record on the road if they are to earn a spot in the playoffs. The Indians look to start that quest and extend their overall winning streak to nine Friday when they visit the Miami Marlins to start a three-game series. Cleveland, third in the majors with 519 runs scored, is two games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central and second in the wild-card race.

Jason Kipnis and Michael Bourn, rested in the 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, should be back in the lineup against Marlins ace Jose Fernandez. Miami has won seven of 11 since being shut out three consecutive games after the All-Star break and allowed two or fewer runs in nine of its last 14. Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has cooled off, going 1-for-12 his last four games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FSN Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (8-5, 4.17 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Fernandez (7-5, 2.71)

Jimenez allowed two or fewer runs in 12 of his last 17 starts, including eight shutout innings to beat Texas 6-0 on Sunday. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.08 ERA since June 12, even though he has walked 30 in 49 2/3 innings. Stanton is 3-for-4 with a homer and Juan Pierre 9-for-29 with a round-tripper against Jimenez, who is 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA in four career starts versus Miami.

Fernandez has been one of the National League’s best pitchers since May 1 and has limited opponents to a .195 batting average overall. The 21-year-old rookie was 3-1 with a 2.06 ERA in July after allowing two runs over eight innings with a career-best 13 strikeouts to beat Pittsburgh on Sunday. Fernandez has never faced Cleveland, but is 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA in three starts against AL teams.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami’s pitching staff finished with a 3.24 ERA in July, the lowest in franchise history during that month.

2. The Indians have scored first in 18 of their last 19 games, going 14-5 in that stretch.

3. The Marlins won two of three at Cleveland last season, but will host the Indians for the first time since 2007.

PREDICTION: Marlins 4, Indians 2