Series Preview: Indians vs. Diamondbacks

If there’s anything to take away from this series against the Giants, it’s that the Indians went toe to toe with the defending champs and didn’t blink. Unfortunately, for Cleveland, they were also swept. The Indians starting pitching performed well and Fausto Carmona turned thins around in the finale but it was all for not as the Giants were able to scrape across just enough runs to top the Tribe.

June 27-29, 2011

Chase Field

Scouting Report

• Cleveland – The Tribe rolls into Phoenix having dropped five out of six and are coming off a series sweep at the hands of the defending champion San Francisco Giants. It was a rather lackluster series for the Indians after they had built up some momentum in their last homestand before hitting the road. The starting pitching was good for the Indians, only giving up three earned runs but the Giants were able to take advantage of some costly miscues made by the Tribe both in the field and on the basepaths. The offense labored to score runs yet again and things will only get tougher for Cleveland as they will now be without Shin-Soo Choo, who was starting to break out of his season-long slump. Choo will be out anywhere from six to ten weeks and could face surgery. Couple that with the limited plate appearances Travis Hafner will be seing during this trip and things look grim for the Indians offense.  The result, the Tribe has called up top prospect Lonnie Chisenhall in an attempt to add some sort of spark to the lineup. The Indians have played five straight one-run games winning  just one before they were dropped 3-2 by the Giants Sunday night.

• Arizona – The Diamondbacks are just 1 1/2 games behind division leader San Francisco as they return home after dropping two to the Detroit Tigers. Arizona will be looking to make this series count too,  as this is the last series they will play at home over a 19-game stretch to allow for All-Star Game preparations. The D-backs’ 258 extra-base hits lead the NL and rank second in the Majors behind the Red Sox’s 267. Among NL teams in June, the Arizona offense ranks first with 82 extra-base hits.

Pitching Match-up(s)

Game 1 – Mitch Talbot vs. Ian Kennedy

• Mitch Talbot 2-47, 4.91 ERA

Talbot took a no-decision in his last start against Colorado, as he allowed three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He has given up three or fewer runs in six of his eight outings this year.

• Ian Kennedy  8-2, 2.90 ERA

Kennedy has won seven of his last eight decisions to jump into All-Star consideration. Last time out, he allowed one run on eight hits over six innings. In his last two starts he has given up just one earned run in 14 innings.

Game 2 – Josh Tomlin vs. Daniel Hudson

• Josh Tomlin  9-4, 3.95 ERA

Tomlin has won his last two starts after allowing six earned runs in each of his three previous outings. The righty leads the Tribe in wins and has pitched at least five frames in each of his 27 career starts, second in MLB history to begin a career.

• Daniel Hudson  9-5, 3.58 ERA

Hudson has won his last three starts and his last six decisions overall. Last time out against the Royals, he allowed three runs over seven innings, but was hampered by poor defense behind him. This will be his first career start against the Indians.

Game 3 – Carlos Carrasco vs.  Zach Duke

• Carlos Carrasco  7-4, 3.62 ERA

Carlos Carrasco turned in another solid outing Friday night but unfortunately, for the Indians, a couple untimely errors were enough to saddle Carrasco with the loss. He went eight strong innings only giving up one earned run on six hits. In his last eight starts, Carrasco is 6-2 with a 2.55 ERA. During that span, opposing batters have hit just .222 against the right-hander.

• Zach Duke  1-2, 5.73 ERA

Duke has struggled to find his rhythm after missing the first two months of the season with a broken hand. In his last outing he allowed six runs on seven hits in just four innings against the Tigers. This will be Duke’s seventh start of the year.

Probable Lineups

Cleveland

1. LF Michael Brantley
2. 2B Cord Phelps
3. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
4.  1B Carlos Santana
5. CF Grady Sizeore
6. RF Austin Kearns
7. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
8.    C Lou Marson
9.     P Mitch Talbot

Arizona

1. 2B Willie Bloomquist
2. SS Stephen Drew
3. RF Justin Upton
4. CF Chris Young
5.    C Miguel Montero
6. 1B Juan Miranda
7. LF Xavier Nady
8. 3B Ryan Roberts
9.    P Ian Kennedy