The Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds will renew their intra-state rivalry with a three game weekend series at Progressive Field. The Indians(26-15) own a 5-game lead in the American League Central Division, while the Reds(25-19) sit just .5 game behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.
The Indians own the best home record in baseball, jumping out to a 15-4 record at Progressive Field. The Indians are battling some injuries, however, with Travis Hafner(side soreness) and Travis Buck(turf toe) battling injuries. Grady SIzemore remains on the disabled list with a bruised right knee as well. The Indians lost both games to the Chicago White Sox without Hafner in the lineup, managing just 2 runs in the two games.
The Reds are building on a strong 2010 season that saw them break a string of nine consecutive losing seasons. Their 2010 Central Division title was their first since 1995. The Reds are also 13-5 against the Indians the past three seasons.
Like the Indians, the Reds come into the weekend struggling a bit, having lost two in a row to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Friday night's first game will see the Indians send rookie Alex White(1-0, 3.75) to the mound against lefty Travis Wood(3-3, 5.01) Wood has been shape lately going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his three starts in May.