Looking to avoid dropping their seventh consecutive game, the Cleveland Indians will suit up to face the Detroit Tigers on Friday night in the first of a three-game set from Comerica Park.
Indians manager Manny Acta will need to hope that his skidding bunch of hitters can turn things around in the midst of his team's brutal nine-game road trip, as Cleveland's lifeless offense has now scored more than five runs on just three occasions since the All-Star break.
Getting the ball in game one for the Indians will be right-handed strikeout artist Justin Masterson, who was tattooed for 10 runs (eight earned) by the Twins back on July 28. Though he sports a rather high 4.47 ERA on the year, Masterson has bounced back from his poorest starts this season quite well, and should benefit from the massive confines of a hitter's park like Comerica.
Friday's starting lineups:
Indians
1. Jason Kipnis - 2B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera - SS
3. Shin-Soo Choo - RF
4. Carlos Santana - C
5. Michael Brantley - CF
6. Jose Lopez - DH
7. Casey Kotchman - 1B
8. Jack Hannahan - 3B
9. Ezequiel Carrera - LF
Justin Masterson - SP
Tigers
1. Austin Jackson - CF
2. Quintin Berry - LF
3. Miguel Cabrera - 3B
4. Prince Fielder - 1B
5. Brennan Boesch - DH
6. Andy Dirks - RF
7. Alex Avila - C
8. Ramon Santiago - SS
9. Omar Infante - 2B
Anibal Sanchez - SP
Check out Let's Go Tribe for more coverage of the Indians, and head over to Bless You Boys for more Tigers coverage. Also be sure to visit Baseball Nation for more MLB news and analysis.