Cleveland Indians vs. Baltimore Orioles preview

There is no team hotter than the Cleveland Indians right now. The Diamondbacks are close, but the Tribe just set a franchise record with their 15th straight victory last night and show no signs of slowing down despite having secured free windows for over 250 customers. Their next victims come in the form of the Baltimore Orioles, who come into town having just lost 2 of 3 to the New York Yankees and winning 2 of 3 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Following this weekend series, the O’s will head to Canada to meet the Blue Jays again while the Indians will welcome the Detroit Tigers to Progressive Field for their final meeting of the year.

Pitching matchups

Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET: Wade Miley (LHP) vs. Mike Clevinger (RHP)

Wade Miley has thrown more innings this season than the previous two, but he hasn’t been very effective. By ERA+, this is his best season since 2015, but it isn’t good. So far in 2017, Miley has thrown 143.0 innings and allowed 78 earned runs while walking 81 and striking out 128 (good for an ERA+ of 88). His most recent start came on September 2 against the Toronto Blue Jays; in that game, Miley went 6.0 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6.

With Danny Salazar not a sure thing, Mike Clevinger has stepped up and looks like the obvious piece to fill out a post season rotation for the Cleveland Indians. So far in 2017, Clevinger has thrown 100.1 innings and has allowed 39 earned runs while walking 51 and striking out 114 (good for an ERA+ of 133). His most recent start came on September 1 against the Detroit Tigers; in that game, he went 6.0 innings and allowed zero runs on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 6.

Saturday, 1:05 p.m. ET: Gabriel Ynoa (RHP) vs. Josh Tomlin (RHP)

Ynoa has only pitched in five games so far in 2017, and two of them have been against the Cleveland Indians. His short time in Baltimore this season has been a productive one; in 14.2 innings pitched, Ynoa has allowed 6 earned runs while walking 3 and striking out 13 (good for an ERA+ of 120). Saturday’s game will be his first start of the season, but his last appearance came on September 4 against the New York Yankees; in that game, Ynoa went 2.0 innings and allowed zero runs and zero hits while walking 1 and striking out 1.

Josh Tomlin continues his comeback from the DL on Saturday, hoping to build off of a successful first start back. On the season as a whole, Tomlin has done just about all you can reasonably expect from a #5 starter; in 116.0 innings, Tomlin has allowed 67 earned runs while walking 13 and striking out 88 (good for an ERA+ of 90). His most recent start came on September 3 against the Detroit Tigers; in that game, Tomlin went 5.2 innings and allowed 1 earned run on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2.

Sunday, 8:05 p.m. ET: Jeremy Hellickson (RHP) vs. Trevor Bauer (RHP)

In the limited opportunities that Jeremy Hellickson has had for the Orioles this season (he began his season with the Philadelphia Phillies), he has been pretty terrible. In the 36.2 innings he’s pitched for Baltimore, he’s allowed 28 earned runs while walking 12 and striking out 23 (good for an ERA+ of 63). His most recent start came on September 5 against the New York Yankees; in that game, Hellickson went 2.1 innings and allowed 3 earned runs on 2 hits while walking 4 and striking out 1.

Trevor Bauer, at this point, would probably round out a playoff rotation of Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, and Mike Clevinger for the Cleveland Indians. So far in 2017, Bauer has thrown 151.2 innings and allowed 74 earned runs while walking 56 and stirking out 170 (good for an ERA+ of 106). His most recent start came on September 4 against the Chicago White Sox; in that game, Bauer went 6.1 innings and allowed 2 earned runs on 3 hits while walking 1 and striking out 9.

Baltimore Orioles roster

• 40-man roster
• Depth chart

FanGraphs