Pregame Notes: Cleveland Indians try to avoid sweep at home against Texas

The Cleveland Indians entered the series red-hot, bringing a six game streak into a three-game set with the Texas Rangers. After taking two out of three from Texas in Arlington, the Rangers brought a hefty streak of their own into Progressive Field — and the Tribe has been unable to slow the streaky Rangers who are going for eight straight.

Attempting to get the Tribe back in the win column this afternoon is Carlos Carrasco, who will face the Rangers for the second time this season. The Indians right-hander threw eight innings, allowing five earned runs while throwing a season-high 114 pitches. He enters the game 5-4 with a 4.81 ERA, but is coming off his best start in the month of May. Carrasco tosses six innings of two-run baseball his last time out against the Reds and will look to carry that success into a matinee match-up to close out the series.

Opposite Carrasco is Texas right-hander Colby Lewis, who enters the game with a 4-2 record and 3.49 ERA. He beat the Yankees in his last outing, but surrendered six runs in five innings against the Tribe in Texas. He put together a strong start to 2015, but his since floundered on his way to a 7.71 ERA in his last two outings. He is 2-1 with a 5.34 ERA in five starts against the Indians over the last five seasons.

The afternoon meeting concludes a three-game set in Cleveland, as the Tribe attempts to avoid a sweep in the final meeting between these two teams of the season.

Here are the starting lineups:

Roberto Perez is back behind the dish, as the Tribe continues to ease Yan Gomes back into full-time action.

News & Notes:

-Fans may have noticed the new look the Tribe players are sporting these days. The guys have shaved their heads in support of Mike Aviles and his daughter Adriana, as she battles leukemia.

-The Indians were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position during Tuesday night’s loss. Michael Brantley, who frequently sits atop the major league leaders in average with runners in scoring position, grounded out to the pitcher to end the game, stranding two in the ninth.

-With his 0-for-5 mark on Tuesday, Brantley is hitting just .179 in his past 10 games with six strikeouts in 47 plate appearances.

-Thankfully, x-rays on Carlos Santana‘s left wrist came back OK after the Tribe’s first baseman was drilled with a pitch in the ninth.

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