Series Preview: Indians vs. Reds

The Indians will end their road trip with a three game set with the Reds. After getting swept by the Giants the Indians managed to take two out of three from the Diamondbacks in Arizona and were one mistake from making that a series sweep of their own. Tony Sipp  nearly balked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth but with the very next pitch, Wily Mo Pena sent Chase Field into a frenzy with a homer to left field. Now the Indians will take on the Reds in the second round of the Battle of Ohio before returning home to the lakefront.

July 1-3, 2011

Great American Ball Park

Scouting Report

• Cleveland – The Indians are coming off of a six game swing in which they have played better than their record has indicated. They could have easily swept the D-backs and threw away game one in the series against the Giants. They also racked up fifteen hits in their series finale against Arizona. Orlando Cabrera had a season-high four hits and is 8 for 14 with three doubles over his last four contests.Asdrubal Cabrera has gone 7 for 17 with four RBIs during that same stretch. The shortstop had a career-high five hits, two homers and five RBIs during the May 22 finale against the Reds, a 12-4 victory.The Indians have dropped eight of 10 at Great American Ball Park.

• Cincinnati – The Reds took two of three from the Rays in Tampa this week. Ryan Hanigan returned to the Reds’ lineup on Wednesday, and the catcher went 2-for-3, including a three-run home run, in the 4-3 win. Ramon Hernandez had caught the previous three games. Also, former Indian Brandon Phillips is just three hits shy of the 1,000 hit plateau.

Pitching Match-up(s)

Game 1 – Justin Masterson vs. Bronson Arroyo

• Justin Masterson  5-6, 2.98 ERA

After winning his first five decisions, the right-hander has dropped his past six. He was a tough-luck loser on Saturday against the Giants, pitching 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out five and walking two.

• Bronson Arroyo  7-6, 5.01 ERA

Arroyo has given up 20 home runs this season, including four in his last start on Saturday in Baltimore. Although the long ball has plagued him, he’s found ways out of tough situations. During his win over the O’s, he got three double plays.

Game 2 – Fausto Carmona vs. Homer Bailey

• Fausto Carmona  4-10, 5.89 ERA

Carmona has struggled, dropping seven of his last eight decisions and hasn’t pitched seven innings since May 24 against Boston. On Sunday, he threw six innings, allowed three runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked three against the Giants.

• Homer Bailey  3-2, 3.86 ERA

In Sunday’s 7-5 loss to the Orioles, the nine hits and two home runs allowed were both season highs for Bailey. It was his first big league start since he went on the disabled list for nearly a month because of a strain in his right shoulder.

Game 3 – Mitch Talbot vs. Mike Leake

• Mitch Talbot  2-4, 4.96 ERA

Talbot didn’t factor into the decision on Monday against the D-backs, pitching five innings, allowing three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out two. The Indians have lost four of the right-hander’s previous five starts.

• Mike Leake  7-4, 3.89 ERA

Leake pitched six scoreless innings for his seventh win on Monday. Despite the success, Leake felt he was having mechanical issues that prevented him from consistently throwing first-pitch strikes. He plans to work on that for his next start.

Probable Lineups

Cleveland

1. LF Michael Brantley
2. 2B Orlando Cabrera
3. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
4. 1B Carlos Santana
5. CF Grady Sizemore
6. RF Travis Buck
7. C Lou Marson
8. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
9. P Justin Masterson

Cincinnati

1. CF Drew Stubbs
2. 2B Brandon Phillips
3. 1B Joey Votto
4. RF Jay Bruce
5. 3B Scott Rolen
6. LF Chris Heisey
7. C Ryan Hanigan
8. SS Paul Janish
9. P Bronson Arroyo