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Cleveland Indians shoot for .500 in series opener against Orioles

Drown your sorrows over the first game of the NBA Finals with some Tribe baseball

Rich Lam/Getty Images

Cleveland Indians vs. Baltimore Orioles

Friday, June 5, 7:10 ET, Progressive Field

TV: STO, MLBTV, Radio: WTAM

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Having the same number of wins as losses is finally within grasp for the Cleveland Indians, who hope to make it to .500 for the first time since they were 2-2 back on April 9. Taking the mound for this potential breakthrough game is baseball's own Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Shaun Marcum. So far this season he's given the Tribe three passable-if-not-great starts, and one disastrous outing against the Texas Rangers in his second start of the season where he gave up seven earned runs in only 2 2/3 innings. As long as he can put up a solid five innings of work, the surging Tribe bullpen should be able to come in and lock it down.

The biggest story of the game arguably isn't even Indians related, but Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters makes his 2015 debut tonight. The 29-year-old is returning after a year of being absent due to Tommy John surgery last June.

However back on the Indians side of the field, speaking of catchers, Yan Gomes will hope to get on track against the Orioles in this series opener and beyond. Since his return on March 24, Gomes has accounted for only four hits and one run batted in in 30 plate appearances. The rest of the team has been hot so his offensive struggles have been hidden well, but coming alive against the Orioles would be icing on the delicious victory cake (which I can only assume is some kind of ice cream cake).

Today's Lineups

BALTIMORE ORIOLES CLEVELAND INDIANS
Manny Machado - 3B Jason Kipnis - 2B
Travis Snider - RF Carlos Santana - 1B
Adam Jones - CF Michael Brantley - DH
Chris Davis - 1B Brandon Moss - RF
Matt Wieters - C David Murphy - LF
Jimmy Paredes - DH Lonnie Chisenhall - 3B
Ryan Flaherty - 2B Yan Gomes - C
J.J. Hardy - SS Michael Bourn - CF
David Lough - LF Mike Aviles - SS
Chris Tillman - RHP Shaun Marcum - RHP

Let's go Tribe!