Cleveland @ Texas preview
Choctaw Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2012 ) Texas 8, Cleveland 3
The Texas Rangers have spent only two days - the second and third of the season - outside first place in the American League West, a fact they hope to preserve with the help of a three-game home series against the sinking Cleveland Indians. Texas dropped two of three at Tampa Bay over the weekend and saw its division lead dwindle to three games over Oakland, but the Rangers will try to bounce back against an Indians team that has gone 9-29 since the start of August. Cleveland has lost three straight.
The Rangers hope a couple extra days of rest will help left-hander Matt Harrison rebound from his recent struggles after losing two straight starts. The Indians will throw right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who has faced Texas twice this year. He tossed seven scoreless innings to beat the Rangers on May 6, but they solved him Aug. 31, getting to him for four runs in 5 2/3 innings in a 5-3 Texas victory.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (9-15, 5.58 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Matt Harrison (15-9, 3.37)
Jimenez is trying to reach double-digit wins for the fifth consecutive season, but has lost four straight decisions and eight of his last nine. He hasn't posted a quality start since Aug. 9 and allowed four runs over 7 1/3 innings in his last outing Wednesday at Detroit. Jimenez is 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA in three starts against Texas.
Harrison has been one of the Rangers' most consistent starters, but has allowed 12 runs (10 earned) over 10 innings in his last two starts, prompting the extra time off. He has had a tough time against the Indians, going 1-2 with a 5.17 ERA in three starts. He has not faced Cleveland this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rangers were shut out in Sunday's finale against Tampa Bay, marking only the fourth time they've been blanked this season. That's the third-fewest in the majors behind the Reds and Tigers, who have been shut out twice apiece.
2. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre (4-for-9) and 2B Ian Kinsler (3-for-8) are a combined 7-for-17 (.412) against Jimenez, but the rest of the Rangers' roster is a collective 8-for-50 (.160).
3. Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera sat out Monday after injuring his right wrist in Sunday's game. Cabrera is 2-for-8 against Harrison.