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Houston At Cleveland, 5:05 p.m. (CT)
TV: CSN Houston, MLB.TV
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KLAT 1010 AM <----- Note the Station Change for Today and Tomorrow
Indians SBNation Blog: Let's Go Tribe
Pitching Match
RHP Paul Clemens ( 4-5 / 5.54 ERA / 1.44 WHIP) vs. LHP Scott Kazmir (8-9 / 4.34 ERA / 1.35 WHIP)
Preview
I'm some what surprise that last night's game wasn't played in Milwaukee for some reason. The Astros are back at it again, attempting to now knock the Indians out of the playoffs. The Indians now have a half-game lead for the Rangers at the moment.
Paul Clemens is coming off his best start of the season, holding the Angels to two runs over seven innings. As a starter, Clemens is 0-1 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Clemens made a relief appearance in Houston's previous encounter with Indians this season, he pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of April 20. Only one player recorded a hit off Clemens in that appearance, Yan Gomes accounted for a single. The other 11 at-bats were fruitless, including Nick Swisher and Mike Aviles who were each 0-for-2.
I have two things to say about today's Indians starter. One, you could have the made the trip down the road to Sugar Land last season to see him pitch for the Skeeters. Two, he is proof that left-handers will always find a home on a major league roster. Scott Kazmir has arisen from the baseball grave to make 27 starts for the tribe this season. He appears to have rounded into form after the All-Star break with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 11 starts. Kazmir has given up seven runs over his last nine innings.
Like many rookie pitchers or pitchers returning from the DL this season, Kazmir made his first start of the season against the Astros to ease him into Major League hitting. Kazmir lasted only 3.1 innings and gave up six runs on eight hits. Thankfully for him, it was forgotten amongst the 19 runs the Indians scored that game.
Brandon Laird and Brandon Barnes each have home run in two career at-bats against Kazmir. Jose Altuve is 3-for-3 with a double in his career against Kazmir.