Cleveland @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2011 ) Cleveland 6, Baltimore 5
THE STORY: The bumbling Baltimore Orioles will try to break their nine-game losing streak Saturday when they host the Cleveland Indians. Orioles manager Buck Showalter has only lost nine straight twice in his 13-year career (2003 with Texas). The Indians have won six straight over Baltimore, and 15 of 21. Cleveland leads Detroit by one game in the American League Central, the latest the Indians have been in first place since winning the division in 2007.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alfredo Simon (1-2, 4.85 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (8-6, 4.28).
Simon, formerly a long reliever, will make his second start before leaving Sunday for a Monday hearing in the Dominican Republic in his involuntary manslaughter case. The club hopes he’ll return in time to make his next start. He was touched for eight hits, three walks and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Red Sox in his fourth career start July 9. Carrasco has been lit up for three homers and 11 earned runs in seven innings over his last two starts. Opponents are hitting .265 against the 24-year-old Venezuelan, who has dropped three of four decisions following a 7-3 start.
ABOUT THE ORIOLES (36-54): The pitching staff has given up four runs or more in 20 straight games and 10 or more hits in 10 straight games. The Orioles have gone hitless against the Indians' bullpen in seven innings this series. Designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero has missed two straight games with a fractured bone in his right hand. With Baltimore out of the race, the team could entertain offers for J.J. Hardy, Mark Reynolds, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.
ABOUT THE INDIANS (49-42): Reliever Joe Smith, who tossed a scoreless inning Friday, has gone 27 straight appearances without allowing a run. Closer Chris Perez has 22 saves in 23 chances. All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who went 2-for-5 with his career-high 16th homer and two RBIs Friday, has 24 RBIs in 26 career games against Baltimore.
FINAL PITCH: Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie (3-13) is the first pitcher to lose 13 games this early in a season since Jeremy Bonderman and Mike Maroth did it for the 2003 Detroit Tigers. That team lost 119 games.