Series Preview: Cleveland Indians back home with momentum for Brewers

Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:10 p.m. EST

Probable Starters: Aaron Civale (3-4, 3.72 ERA) vs. Brandon Woodruff (2-3, 3.67 ERA)

Aaron Civale will get the call for Cleveland on Saturday, entering with a 3-4 record after having been a part of the decision in all seven of his previous starts this season.

The year has been a bit of a roller coaster for Civale, allowing five runs, three runs and one run over his last three starts, respectively. However, he did log his first complete game of his career.

Last season, Civale totaled 10 starts and after seven this year his numbers are almost identical. Last year he allowed 15 runs on 44 hits through 10 starts while this year he’s allowed 19 runs on 45 hits through seven starts. One positive has been his strikeout numbers increasing, already up to 43 through seven starts while last year he had just 46 through 10.

Civale will be opposing Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff, who has eight starts under his belt so far this season. In those eight appearances, Woodruff has gone 41.2 innings while striking out 48 batters and allowing 17 runs. Despite being in the league since 2017, this will be Woodruff’s first start against Cleveland.

In Woodruff’s last start he gave up four runs over five innings against Pittsburgh, picking up the loss in the effort. His downfall in the game was walking three batters and giving up two home runs to the Pirates.