Cleveland @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2019 ) Cleveland 7, Toronto 3

Right-hander Trevor Bauer looks to match his last outing against the Toronto Blue Jays when the Cleveland Indians visit for the second of a three-game series Tuesday, seeking a ninth victory in 10 contests. Bauer walked six and struck out eight while holding the Blue Jays without a hit over seven scoreless innings in a 4-1 triumph on April 4, and hopes to reach double-digit wins for the fifth straight season.

Rookie outfielder Oscar Mercado had two hits, including a home run, in Monday’s 7-3 victory and is 13-for-31 with four blasts and 11 RBIs over his last eight contests for the Indians, while teammate Jose Ramirez recorded multiple hits for the seventh time in 16 games this month. Cleveland, which owns the top wild card spot in the American League, won 14 of its last 17 contests and has taken all five meetings with Toronto this season after pounding out seven extra-base hits in Monday’s win. The Blue Jays have lost six of nine and two straight after managing just five hits in the series opener, including a two-run homer by Billy McKinney and a solo shot by Justin Smoak. Rookie slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a pair of hits Monday and is 7-for-15 with a homer and five RBIs over his last four contests for the Blue Jays, who send right-hander Aaron Sanchez to the mound looking to end a 10-start losing streak.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, You Tube

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (9-7, 3.67 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (3-14, 6.26)

Bauer has strung three quality starts together and posted six in his last eight outings after holding Detroit to three runs over 6 2/3 innings in a win Thursday. The 28-year-old UCLA product has lost just once in his last eight starts and boasts 170 strikeouts - 21 in the last two outings - over 144 2/3 innings this season. Freddy Galvis is 1-for-2 with a homer and three walks versus Bauer, who is 3-2 with a 4.91 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) against Toronto.

Sanchez has suffered through 15 outings without a victory, going 0-13 with a 7.98 ERA, after beginning the season with a 3-1 record and 2.32 ERA in six starts. The 27-year-old California native has not completed six innings in any of his last seven starts after yielding four runs over five frames in a loss at Boston on Wednesday. Francisco Lindor is 2-for-3 with a double against Sanchez, who limited Cleveland to two runs over six innings in a loss on April 4.

WALK-OFFS

1. Toronto INF Eric Sogard is 7-for-19 during a four-game hitting streak, raising his batting average to .304.

2. Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis had two hits Monday and is 10-for-30 during his current eight-game hitting streak.

3. The Blue Jays placed RHP Trent Thornton (right elbow) on the 10-day injured list Monday.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Blue Jays 3