GAME: Cleveland Indians (42-36) at Detroit Tigers (35-43)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, July 01 - 7:15 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Make-up dates are piling up for the Cleveland Indians and the host Detroit Tigers, who face off in a day-night doubleheader on Saturday at Comerica Park due to a game that was rained out on May 4. The expected start of the four-game series on Friday was postponed due to rain and was rescheduled for Sept. 1, giving the Tigers one less chance to move up the standings at the expense of the division-leading Indians.
Up and down Cleveland began a seven-game homestand by being outscored 13-2 while dropping three straight to Minnesota, but picked things up this week by taking three of four from the Texas Rangers to jump ahead of the Twins again in the division. Indians pitchers allowed a total of six runs in the final three games of the series against the Rangers, with ace Corey Kluber striking out 12 in eight innings to polish off a 5-1 win in Thursday's series finale. Trying to keep that run of solid pitching going for Cleveland in the opener will be struggling right-hander Josh Tomlin while the Tigers counter with veteran Anibal Sanchez, and Carlos Carrasco will face off against Detroit's Jordan Zimmermann in the nightcap. The Tigers come in hot with wins in three of four as well and will try to make up some ground in the Central with six games against the Indians before the break.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (8-3, 3.67 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (5-5, 5.53)
Carrasco followed up a dominant outing with a stinker in his last two turns and had a three-start winning streak come to an end when he served up eight runs on six hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings against Texas on Monday. The Venezuela native struck out 10 without issuing a walk in six scoreless frames at Baltimore on June 21. Carrasco is 1-1 in two starts against Detroit this season, with four runs allowed in 12 2/3 total innings.
Zimmermann is trying to put a rough start behind him as well after allowing five runs on six hits and three walks over four innings at San Diego on Sunday. The Wisconsin native had a string of four straight quality starts come to an end with that outing and served up a pair of home runs to the Padres. Zimmermann is seeing Cleveland for the first time in 2017 and lost his only start against the division rivals last season while being lit up for seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians OF Michael Brantley recorded multiple hits in three of his last four games and owns four doubles in that span.
2. Detroit LHP Justin Wilson struck out five in 2 1/3 perfect innings over his last three appearances.
3. Cleveland RF Lonnie Chisenhall drove in six runs in the last four contests.
PREDICTION: Indians 6, Tigers 4
DATE/TIME: Saturday, July 01 - 7:15 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Make-up dates are piling up for the Cleveland Indians and the host Detroit Tigers, who face off in a day-night doubleheader on Saturday at Comerica Park due to a game that was rained out on May 4. The expected start of the four-game series on Friday was postponed due to rain and was rescheduled for Sept. 1, giving the Tigers one less chance to move up the standings at the expense of the division-leading Indians.
Up and down Cleveland began a seven-game homestand by being outscored 13-2 while dropping three straight to Minnesota, but picked things up this week by taking three of four from the Texas Rangers to jump ahead of the Twins again in the division. Indians pitchers allowed a total of six runs in the final three games of the series against the Rangers, with ace Corey Kluber striking out 12 in eight innings to polish off a 5-1 win in Thursday's series finale. Trying to keep that run of solid pitching going for Cleveland in the opener will be struggling right-hander Josh Tomlin while the Tigers counter with veteran Anibal Sanchez, and Carlos Carrasco will face off against Detroit's Jordan Zimmermann in the nightcap. The Tigers come in hot with wins in three of four as well and will try to make up some ground in the Central with six games against the Indians before the break.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (8-3, 3.67 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (5-5, 5.53)
Carrasco followed up a dominant outing with a stinker in his last two turns and had a three-start winning streak come to an end when he served up eight runs on six hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings against Texas on Monday. The Venezuela native struck out 10 without issuing a walk in six scoreless frames at Baltimore on June 21. Carrasco is 1-1 in two starts against Detroit this season, with four runs allowed in 12 2/3 total innings.
Zimmermann is trying to put a rough start behind him as well after allowing five runs on six hits and three walks over four innings at San Diego on Sunday. The Wisconsin native had a string of four straight quality starts come to an end with that outing and served up a pair of home runs to the Padres. Zimmermann is seeing Cleveland for the first time in 2017 and lost his only start against the division rivals last season while being lit up for seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians OF Michael Brantley recorded multiple hits in three of his last four games and owns four doubles in that span.
2. Detroit LHP Justin Wilson struck out five in 2 1/3 perfect innings over his last three appearances.
3. Cleveland RF Lonnie Chisenhall drove in six runs in the last four contests.
PREDICTION: Indians 6, Tigers 4