Toronto @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2011 ) Toronto 5, Cleveland 4

THE STORY: The next time Jose Bautista comes to bat with the game on the line, Cleveland manager Manny Acta may want to walk him. Pitching to the All-Star slugger, who leads the majors with 31 home runs, isn't working. Bautista's homer in the 10th inning, his second of the game, gave Toronto a 5-4 victory Saturday. The teams meet in the finale of the four-game Sunday at Cleveland. The Blue Jays have won two straight after Thursday's crushing defeat in which they led 4-0 going into the ninth, but lost on Travis Hafner's walkoff grand slam. Despite the loss, Cleveland is still one-half game ahead of Detroit in the American League Central.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SNET (Toronto), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Brett Cecil (1-4, 6.37 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (8-5, 3.95).

Although it resulted in a loss, Cecil showed signs of the pitcher the Blue Jays have been waiting to see in his last start. He pitched the first complete game of his career against Boston, allowing three runs. Cecil will be making his third start since being recalled from the minors. He's won his only career decision against the Indians. It will be interesting to see how Carrasco responds to his first poor outing in more than a month. He gave up six runs in four innings against the Yankees on Tuesday and crumbled after what should have been an inning-ending double play wasn't turned. Carrasco has never pitched against Toronto.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (47-41): Coming off a 93-loss season, no one expected much from the Indians, yet they have surprised the experts. Strong pitching, particularly from the bullpen, and the all-around play of shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, have kept the Indians at the top of the division all season. An inconsistent offense could keep Cleveland from finishing the job. Shin-Soo Choo will likely be out until September with a broken thumb while Grady Sizemore, who is batting .227 and striking out too often, continues to struggle. A bat will have to be added before the trade deadline.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (44-47): It has been a rocky first half in Toronto. First-year manager John Farrell has had to deal with being in baseball's toughest division, inconsistent play from his own team and several injuries. The Blue Jays have had several tough losses, thanks mostly to a leaky bullpen, which has already blown 14 saves. Frank Francisco has pitched himself out of the closer's role twice and didn't win favor with his bosses by cursing at reporters Thursday after pitching poorly. New closer Jon Rauch blew a save in the ninth inning Saturday, but was bailed out by Bautista. It won't be easy for Toronto to make up ground in a division with New York, Boston and Tampa Bay.

FINAL PITCH: A win Sunday will assure the Indians of being in first place at the All-Star break.