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The second half of the MLB season has not been kind to the Cleveland Indians. The Tribe just lost three-straight games against the Minnesota Twins and are losers in 11 of their last 15 outings. One of the few remaining joys is the ability to best the Detroit Tigers and hamper their chances at winning the American League Central division, but before the Indians get their last opportunity to do so, they've got a series against the Texas Rangers starting on Tuesday.
Texas lost its last outing, a 6-0 shutout at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays, but they're winners in 16 of their last 22 games. They haven't lost straight games since dropping three in a row to the New York Yankees from Aug. 13-15. They're sitting atop the AL West division, three games ahead of the Oakland A's, and every win is important.
The Indians are now at the bottom of the AL Central, 17.5 games back of the first-place Chicago White Sox.
Ubaldo Jimenez (9-15, 5.58 ERA) takes the mound for the Indians Tuesday. He gave up four runs over 7⅓ innings of work in that one. He'll be up against Matt Harrison, who sports a 15-9 record and a 3.37 ERA, though he is also coming off a loss in which he gave up three runs over 4⅔ innings of work.
It will be a three-game set, and game one is set for Tuesday at 8:05 p.m. ET at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.