The Cleveland Indians will welcome pitcher Roberto Hernandez back to the mound on Wednesday evening against the Angels, as the veteran starter aims to help his team wrap up its series with Los Angeles on a high note.
Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, is making his first appearance of 2012 after serving a league-imposed suspension. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Dominican Republic native sports a 4.59 career earned-run average with 53 victories as a major leaguer, but finished just 7-15 overall during a dismal 2011 campaign before his true identity was revealed.
Hernandez will have to be sharp out of the gate against a stacked Los Angeles lineup of power hitters, as 21-year-old phenom Mike Trout will hope to continue his complete assault of American League pitchers. Now hitting an AL-best .341 on the season, Trout has amassed 21 home runs and 37 stolen bases over just 94 games this year for the Angels, and may just be the best player in baseball at the moment.
Here are Wednesday's starting lineups for both teams:
Indians lineup
1. Jason Kipnis - 2B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera - DH
3. Shin-Soo Choo - RF
4. Carlos Santana - C
5. Michael Brantley - CF
6. Casey Kotchman - 1B
7. Brent Lillibridge - SS
8. Jack Hannahan - 3B
9. Ezequiel Carrera - LF
Roberto Hernandez - SP
Angels lineup
1. Mike Trout - CF
2. Erick Aybar - SS
3. Torii Hunter - RF
4. Kendrys Morales - DH
5. Mark Trumbo - 1B
6. Alberto Callaspo - 3B
7. Vernon Wells - LF
8. Maicer Izturis - 2B
9. Chris Iannetta - C
Ervin Santana - SP
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