Series Preview: Indians vs. Angels

The Indians dropped their fourth contest in a row in a finale against the White Sox which saw the Tribe struggle for run support in addition to battling miscues in the field. Three errors and two runs made one thing apparent as the weekend concluded: the Indians need help, both in the field and at the plate. Manny Acta’s post-game comments hinted that the Indians have a deal in the making. A deal that may even surprise the Cleveland faithful.

July 25-27, 2011

Progressive Field

Scouting Report

• Los Angeles – Year in and year out the Angels are one of the American League’s best teams. This year is no different. They have won ten out of their last 11 series and over the past six weeks have the best record in the American League. The Angels pitching comes into this series red hot and will look to lower their already stellar ERA against an Indians club in need of some sort of spark. The success of the Angels mirrors that of their slugger Vernon Wells. Through the first 40 games of the 2011 campaign, the Angels were 20-20. During that stretch, Wells hit just .189. Since then, he has hit .256 with 28 RBI’s and 12 home runs. The club’s fortunes have also improved in that same span, going 24-10.

• Cleveland – The Indians have sputtered since the all-star break. They are just 4-6, have posted a team batting average of just .234 and are one loss away from matching their season long losing skid at five games. With all of that being said, the club still stands just two games out of first place in the Central and will have ample opportunities to gain ground as the season draws to a close. Costly errors and poor performance at the plate have doomed the Indians thus far in the second half. The Tribe needs more help from up-and-down the lineup. Michael Brantley and is hitting .373 (22-for-59) with nine runs, three doubles, six RBIs and has collected eight multihit games.

Pitching Match-up(s)

Game 1 – Dan Haren vs. Fausto Carmona

• Dan Haren  10-6, 3.10 ERA

Haren is coming off a substandard performance, giving up seven earned runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings against the Rangers. Durable as ever, he has been rock-solid all year with his superb control and wide assortment of deliveries.

• Fausto Carmona  5-10, 5.63 ERA

Carmona returned from a stint on the 15-day disabled list and turned in a winning performance against the Twins, allowing just two runs in six innings after missing more than two weeks with a strained right quadriceps.

Game 2 – Jered Weaver vs. Josh Tomlin

• Jered Weaver  13-4, 1.81 ERA

The superlatives are running dry for Weaver, who continues to rack up extraordinary performances and numbers raising his Cy Young Award stock. He’s gone six or more innings in 29 straight starts and owns a seven-game winning streak.

• Josh Tomlin  11-4, 4.12 ERA

Tomlin hasn’t been his sharpest in his recent outings, but the right-hander hasn’t lost a start since June 12. Tomlin has lasted at least five innings in each of his 32 career starts, a modern Major League record.

Game 3 – Ervin Santana vs. David Huff

• Ervin Santana  3-8, 3.69 ERA

Santana turned in one of his best efforts of the season in Friday’s 6-1 victory over the Orioles. Santana carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning on a night when the game-time temperature was 104 degrees.

• David Huff 1-0, 0.oo ERA

Huff, who won his only start this season by holding the Twins scoreless over seven innings on July 18, was moved to Wednesday due to Saturday night’s rainout at Progressive Field.

Probable Lineups

Los Angeles

1. SS Erick Aybar
2. RF Tori Hunter
3. DH Bobby Abreu
4. LF Vernon Wells
5. 3B Alberto Callaspo
6. 2B Howie Kendrick
7. 1B Mark Trumbo
8. CF Peter Bourjos
9.    C Jeff Mathis

Cleveland

1. CF Ezequiel Carrera
2. LF Michael Brantley
3. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
4. DH Travis Hafner
5.     C Carlos Santana
6. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
7. 1B Matt LaPorta
8. 2B Jason Kipnis
9. RF Travis Buck