Series Preview: Cleveland Indians hit road for weekend series in St. Louis

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After a crucial series victory over the Twins, the Cleveland Indians are set to hit the road for a three-game interleague series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cleveland Indians delivered in perhaps their biggest series of the season thus far as they took two out of three games from the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field.

With the series victory, Cleveland improved to 19-12 on the season and now trail the Twins by just a half a game and remain tied with the Chicago White Sox for the No. 4 seed in the AL Playoffs.

Looking to maintain their momentum, the Indians will head west for a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend.

St. Louis started the season 2-3 but then had their season paused for nearly three weeks due to multiple COVID-19 cases in the teams’ traveling party, including multiple players.

Now, the Cardinals are in the midst of playing 55 games in 43 days to close out the 2020 season. The defending NL Central champions are currently 11-11 on the season and would make the postseason as the second-place finisher in their division if the season ended today.

For Cleveland, this weekends’ series will be their fourth against an NL Central foe thus far this season. The Indians took three out of four games from the Reds, were swept in a two-game set by the Cubs and swept three-games from the Pirates.

Can the Indians pick up another critical series win against a contender? Here’s a look at what lies ahead for the Tribe this weekend at Busch Stadium.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – AUGUST 22: Starting pitcher Triston McKenzie #26 of the Cleveland Indians celebrates after completing the first inning of his major league career in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on August 22, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Friday Aug. 28, 8:15 p.m. EST

Probable Starters: Triston McKenzie (1-0, 1.50) vs. Daniel Ponce de Leon (0-2, 5.25)

The Indians will kick off their weekend trip in St. Louis by sending rookie Triston McKenzie to the mound for his second career major league start and first in a road uniform.

Cleveland’s former top prospect was tremendous in his big league debut against Detroit last weekend as he tossed six innings that saw him allow just one run, two hits, one walk and strikeout 10 Tigers in a winning effort.

With his successful first outing, the Indians have opted to keep the right-hander in the rotation while Zach Plesac remains at the teams’ alternate site in Lake County.

As for the Cardinals, they’ll send right-hander Daniel Ponce de Leon to the mound. The 28-year old has struggled so far this season in four outings and three starts as his ERA sits at 5.25 and record is a winless 0-2.

The right-hander is in his third big league season as he holds a career ERA of 3.56 in 28 appearances that include 15 starts. Only three Indians have faced Ponce de Leon before in Jordan Luplow, Franmil Reyes and Domingo Santana.

Luplow is a perfect 2-2 with two-at-bats against the Cardinals righty with an RBI, Reyes is 1-2 with his hit being a home run and Santana is 0-1.

Both teams’ will honor Jackie Robinson by wearing the No. 42 on the back of their jersey’s as the MLB will hold it’s annual Jackie Robinson day that was postponed from it’s original April date amid the pandemic.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – AUGUST 23: Starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco #59 of the Cleveland Indians pitches during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on August 23, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Saturday Aug. 29, 1:15 p.m. EST

Probable Starters: Carlos Carrasco (2-3, 4.50) vs. Jack Flaherty (2-0, 1.98)

In game two of their three-game set with the Cardinals, the Indians will look for a bounce-back outing from veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco.

Carrasco has had a rough start to the 2020 season with his ERA sitting at 4.50 after six starts. The 33-year old has allowed at least three runs in each of his last three starts, including allowing four runs in just 3.1 innings of work in a loss to the Tigers last Sunday.

Only four Cardinals have faced Carrasco in their career in Brad Miller, Yadier Molina, Matt Carpenter and Kolton Wong.

Miller has seen Carrasco the most as batting .300 with an RBI in 10 at-bats against the Indians right-hander while Molina is batting .667 in three-at bats.

As for the Cardinals, they’ll send their ace to the hill in right-hander Jack Flaherty. Flaherty has been outstanding in his three starts this season, posting a 2-0 record and 1.98 ERA. In his most recent outing, the 24-year old tossed 6.2 innings in which he allowed just one, struck out six and earned a victory over the Royals.

Nearly every Indian has faced the Cardinals right-hander, but the team has not had much success as they’re slashing .200/.275/.267 with no home runs and three RBI’s against the St. Louis ace.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 02: Aaron Civale #43 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Minnesota Twins on August 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

Sunday Aug. 30, 2:15 p.m. EST

Probable Starters: Aaron Civale (3-3, 3.15) vs. Adam Wainwright (2-0, 2.88)

Cleveland will finish their three-game set in St. Louis by sending right-hander Aaron Civale to the mound.

Civale is 3-3 so far this season with a 3.15 in six starts. While he struggled in his most recent outing against the Twins, he just two starts removed from pitching his first career complete game when he allowed just one run and struck out six in a victory over the Pirates.

No Cardinals hitters have ever faced the 25-year old right-hander as he’s entering just his second big league season.

St. Louis will counter with two-time World Series champion and 15-year veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright.

Wainwright was once among baseball’s most dominant pitchers as he’s a three-time all-star, led the NL in wins twice and three-time gold glove award winner.

In four starts this season, the 38-year old right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.88 ERA as he continues to reinvent himself as a pitcher without the high velocity he had as a younger pitcher.

More from Away Back Gone

Just three Indians have faced Wainwright in their career’s. Franmil Reyes is 0-2 in two-at bats, Cesar Hernandez is 1-6 with a home run in six-at bats and Domingo Santana is 4-12 with five strikeouts in 12 at-bats.

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