Series preview: Cleveland Indians vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Another chance to get out of the AL Central cellar and improve whatever infinitesimally small Wild Card chances remain fell by the wayside in Wrigley yesterday. Now the Tribe comes home to open a short five-game homestand, with the Milwaukee Brewers first up on Tuesday and Wednesday. This will conclude the NL Central interleague schedule for 2015; the Indians currently have a 10-8 record.

The Indians and Brewers split the two game set at Miller Park in July. The Brewers scored four in the seventh off Danny Salazar and Zach McAllister to break open a 3-1 game and won 8-1. The next day the Indians broke a fourteen year losing streak (covering nine games), winning 7-5.

• Tuesday 7:10 PM: Wily Peralta (R) vs. Josh Tomlin (R)
• Wednesday 7:10 PM: Jimmy Nelson (R) vs. Carlos Carrasco (R)

The Upcoming Schedule: The Tribe will take Thursday off and then the Los Angeles Angels arrive at Progressive for three over the weekend. Then the Indians take to the road for another three city road trip, this time to Toronto, Detroit, and Chicago.

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Playoff Watch: Astros at Yankees, Blue Jays at Rangers, Angels at Tigers, Orioles at Royals, Twins at Rays, Red Sox at White Sox, A's at Marines.

Team in a Box

After the last series between these two, the Brewers went into a tailspin again, losing ten of twelve. They have split the 18 games since that last six game losing streak however. In their past five series they have scored three runs or fewer nine times.

Projected Roster

With the terrible start the Brewers got off to this year, they were sellers at the trading deadline. Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Gomez and Gerardo Parra, one third of their lineup was traded away. They haven't had to use a DH since June and the bench options don't look all that hot, so I guessed with the first baseman, Rogers.

Gennett (968 OPS), Braun (964) and Davis (896) have all been hot the past two weeks with Davis smoking five over the fence and Braun with three.

With the Brewers scoring 15 runs in the two games in June, they have plenty of hitters that excelled. The ones who did not were Lucroy (633 OPS), Davis (333) and Braun (200).

Projected Staff

The Brewers lost starter Tyler Cravy to the DL as well as reliever Michael Blazek. Starter Mike Fiers, and relievers Neal Cotts and Jonathan Broxton were both dealt in the past month.

Peralta rejoined the rotation in late July and has been very hittable. He has a 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 3.8 K/9 in those starts. He has never faced the Indians. Nelson has been much, much better recently, 2.20 ERA in his past five starts, 0.95 WHIP, 8.3 K/9 covering 32.2 innings. He also has never faced the Tribe.

On the Shelf

• SP Tyler Cravy [15 day DL], no timetable for return
• RP Michael Blazek [15 day DL], likely out for season

Almanac

Prediction: The Tribe should have the edge in this series, but I think they will split.