Orioles-Indians Preview
Mike Wright has dropped his ERA under 5.00 for the first time since July. Keeping it there might require some success against a streaking team he's never faced that just beat two of the top pitchers in the AL. The right-hander pitches in Cleveland on Friday night as the Baltimore Orioles begin a three-game series with the Indians, who are seeking their third winning streak of at least four games this season. Before an off day Thursday, the Indians (25-20) won the last three of a four-game set at the Chicago White Sox. Wednesday's 4-3 win was Cleveland's worst offensive game of the series, and it's averaging 6.5 runs with an .804 team OPS over an 8-3 span. Prior to that, the Indians averaged 4.2 runs with a .695 OPS. It's moved them within a half game of the AL Central lead with Michael Brantley and No. 2 starter Carlos Carrasco on the disabled list. "It's encouraging, that's to say the least," Jason Kipnis said. "We've put a real good emphasis on April and May this year so we're not playing catch-up all year. This team is competing. This team is understanding the importance of these games early on and how they can help us down the road." Wright certainly has his work cut out for him after Wednesday's win for the Indians came over Jose Quintana, and they handed Chris Sale his first defeat on Tuesday. "That's big for us," Kipnis said. "We put up two good pitchers today with the getaway game and day game and came out on top. Those are games that add up in the end, and those are ones that we need to get, especially against the team you're chasing, so it was good to close the gap." Wright (2-3, 4.97 ERA) gave up four runs ' two earned ' and five hits in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision in a 9-4 win over the Angels last Friday. That followed his top start of the year at home against Detroit six days before. The 26-year-old gave up at least four earned runs in three of his first five starts. The Indians counter with Trevor Bauer (3-2, 4.31), who is coming off possibly his worst start since entering the rotation. The right-hander gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings of Saturday's 9-1 loss in Boston. After going 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in his first three starts, he's lost his last two with a 5.40 mark. Bauer is also 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in two starts against the Orioles (26-19). Manny Machado is 2 for 5 with two home runs, but Adam Jones is 0 for 6. Baltimore won five of six meetings with the Indians last season, including the last four while holding Cleveland scoreless in the final 19 innings of a three-game sweep at Camden Yards. The Orioles were swept in their midweek series in Houston with Thursday's 4-2 loss, extending their skid to a season-worst four games with 2.3 runs per game and a .195 average. |