Series Preview: Indians vs. Blue Jays

Boy do I wish my working life was as simple as a ballplayers, or even a beat writer. I have to hand it to Jordan Bastian once again for doing some outstanding work as the Tribe’s beat reporter. That must be quite an enjoyable job. Hopefully after this final year of school I can begin a similar type of work. But for now… Valet it is!! After a relatively lackluster series against the Rays the Indians head north to take on the Jays. Hopefully Grady will get back into his early season form and the rest of the lineup breaks out of their funk and it’s right back to the winning ways for the Tribe!

May 30- June 1, 2011

Rogers Centre

Scouting Report

• Cleveland – The Indians have lost four of their last five and have only scored 11 runs over that same span and have been shut out twice. The offensive production that was one of the storylines at the onset of the season has fallen quiet, and the starting pitching has suffered from it.

• Toronto –The bad luck of Monday’s starter for the Blue Jays, Jo-Jo Reyes, is well known: he hasn’t taken a win since 2008, when he was with the Braves, and is 0-4 this season. The left-hander’s rotation spot was in jeopardy earlier in the season, but with Jesse Litsch on the disabled list and Reyes having shown some improvement as of late, his leash is likely a bit longer. Reyes allowed the Yankees five runs in three innings his last time out — a 7-3 loss on Wednesday — but he had allowed just two runs over his previous two starts. The Jays took the finale of a four-game series with the White Sox on Sunday in grand fashion, winning 13-4, and have now won three in a row. Sunday’s game featured five home runs — three of which came from Toronto — but none from the Majors’ leader, Jose Bautista (20). He went 1-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a strikeout. Bautista has 11 home runs in May and has two days to tie his own club record (12) for the month.

Pitching Match-up(s)

Game 1 – Fausto Carmona vs. Jo-Jo Reyes

• Fausto Carmona  3-5, 4.73 ERA

Two two-run frames against Boston were enough to send Carmona to his fifth loss, though he pitched at least seven innings for the eighth time in 10 starts. He fanned seven and walked one in the effort and showed good command.

• Jo-Jo Reyes 0-4, 4.70 ERA

Reyes suffered his fourth loss of the season after surrendering five runs in three innings against the Yankees. He has gone 28 consecutive starts without a victory, which is tied for the Major League record.

Game 2 – Mitch Talbot vs. Brandon Morrow

• Mitch Talbot  1-1, 5.87 ERA

The righty will try to rebound from his last start, during which he allowed Boston eight runs on 12 hits in three innings. It was his first start since an elbow strain, and Cleveland is hoping for a rebound this time around.

• Brandon Morrow  2-2, 4.38 ERA

Morrow allowed just one run while tossing a season-high seven innings in his last outing against the White Sox. Morrow has held opposing teams to six hits or fewer in six of his seven starts this year but only has two wins to show for it.

Game 3- Josh Tomlin vs. Kyle Drabek

• Josh Tomlin 6-2, 2.74 ERA

Tomlin’s last start had just one bad inning, and a pair of two-run homers defeated him when the offense couldn’t bail him out. Still, he didn’t issue a walk and got out of a few jams, proving he’s still on the right track.

• Kyle Drabek  3-3, 4.16 ERA

Drabek threw a career-high 121 pitches during his last outing against the White Sox. He allowed just two runs in 6 2/3 innings, but once again struggled with his control with five walks. Drabek has walked 6.03 per nine innings this season.

Probable Lineups

Cleveland

1. CF Michael Brantley

2. SS Asdrubal Cabrera

3. RF Shin-Soo Choo

4. DH Shelly Duncan

5. 2B Orlando Cabrera

6.   C Carlos Santana

7. 1B Matt LaPorta

8. LF Austin Kearns

9. 3B Jack Hannahan

Toronto

1. SS Yunel Escobar

2. LF Corey Patterson

3. RF Jose Bautista

4. 1B Juan Rivera

5.    C J.P. Arencibia

6. 2B Aaron Hill

7. DH Eric Thames

8. CF Rajai Davis

9. 3B Jayson Nix