Division leaders Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros are set to collide for a three-game series at Minute Maid Park beginning this Friday. Read on for a preview of this intriguing series below.
Starters: Mike Clevinger (3-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. Charlie Morton (5-0, 2.03 ERA)
Pitching:
Mike Clevinger remained undefeated after allowing just two earned runs on eight hits in 7.2 innings of a 6-2 home win over the Royals on May 12. In 24 starts away from home, the 27-year-old Clevinger has a record of 10-5 to go with a 3.22 ERA. Also still without a blemish this season is Houston’s Charlie Morton, who gave up just an earned run on four hits in 7.0 innings of a 6-1 home win against Texas on May 12.
His 2.03 ERA is third best in the American League.
Hitting:
The current Astros lineup only has a .182 batting average against Clevinger.
The current Indians lineup only has a .200 batting average against Morton.
Corey Kluber churned out a solid performance in his last time out on the mound, tossing seven scoreless innings with eight hits allowed in an 11-2 win at home over Kansas City on May 13. Across 47 career innings pitched against the Astros, Kluber has collected numbers of 3.26 ERA, 60 strikeouts, and 17 walks. Over at the other side, the Astros will have Dallas Keuchel on the mound. Keuchel was sensational in his last start, pitching seven shutout innings with just three hits allowed in a 6-1 win over the Rangers at home on May 13.
Hitting:
Marwin Gonzalez is 7-for-14 with two homers against Kluber.
Brandon Guyer is 6-for-14 against Keuchel.
Writer’s Prediction:
Cleveland wins, 3-2.
Game 3: May 19, 9:07PM EST
Starters: Carlos Carrasco (5-2, 3.66 ERA) vs. Lance McCullers Jr. (5-2, 3.63 ERA)
Pitching:
Carlo Carrasco pitched for 6.2 innings in his last start, yielding three earned runs on six hits in a 6-3 road loss to the Detroit Tigers on May 14. The Indians are 3-1 in Carrasco’s last four road starts. Lance McCullers, on the other hand, pitched for six innings and surrendered two earned runs on four hits in a 2-1 road loss to the Angels on May 14. The Astros are 2-2 in his last four home starts.
Hitting:
Jose Altuve is 5-for-16 vs. Carrasco
Yonder Alonso is 4-for-8 against McCullers.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston wins, 4-3.
Writer’s Overall Series Prediction
Houston wins this overall May series, two games to one over Cleveland.
