The Indians have now lost two series in a row and have lose four of their last six games. Not a terrible streak or anything, but still, it would be good to turn that around before it does become terrible, especially as Kansas City and Detroit are determined not to go away, and thus the Tribe needs to keep the losing of series to a minmum.
This weekend Cleveland welcomes the Seattle Mariners to town. The Mariners have lost five straight and are coming off of a three-game sweep in Baltimore, including two losses in extra-innings. It is safe to say that Seattle will be ready to turn things around themselves.
And of course, Seattle would like nothing better than to get some revenge for having been swept by the Indians in Seattle April 8-10.
Fausto Carmona (3-3, 3.83 ERA) will get the ball to open the series tonight at 7:05 against Seattle's Doug Fister. Carmona has rebounded nicely from a 30.00 ERA after his first start at home, and since Opening Day has gone 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA at Progressive Field.
This will be Carmona's first appearance of the season against Seattle, against whom he has a career mark of 2-3 in six appearances, including five starts. In 35 2/3 innings versus the Mariners, Carmona has an ERA of 3.03.
Carmona last worked in Sunday's 6-5 loss in Anaheim, not being involved in the decision against the Angels after giving up three runs -- all unearned -- in seven innings.
Fister will be making his second appearance against the Indians this year. He allowed only one earned run in six innings of a 2-1 Cleveland win on April 9, giving up six hits. Fister (2-4, 3.40 ERA) has started three times versus the Tribe in his career, and is 0-2 overall with a 3.57 ERA in 17 2/3 innings.
Seattle is ranked 29th out of 30 teams in the majors at .229 in hitting. The Mariners are led by Ichiro Suzuki, who enters play on Friday at .309. Justin Smoak leads the team with five homers, and Smoak also leads in RBI with 22.
The Indians are tied for fourth in hitting at .265, and are led in average by Travis Hafner at .333. Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore share the team lead with six home runs, and Asdrubal is all alone with the lead at 24 RBI.
This will be the first appearance in Cleveland of Eric Wedge since he left the Indians after the 2009 season. Wedge is in his first season as manager of the Mariners, who are 16-22 and in last place in the AL West.
The series will continue with day games on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:05.