Before the Tribe comes home to Progressive Field to kick off a much needed 11-game home stand later this week, they will have to once again square off against one of the National League’s elite teams in a quick 2-game series against the Washington Nationals in the nation’s capital.

With the Indians clinging to a 2.5-game lead in the suddenly close AL Central Race, Tuesday night’s matchup will be a difficult one, as the Wahoos take on former Cy Young Award winner, Max Scherzer (12-6, 2.87).  The tough righty has been in elite form since June 1st, posting an intimidating 1.84 ERA, with more than 43% of his outs coming via the strikeout.

The Good News:  Tribe hitters have plenty of experience facing Scherzer, given his time with the Tigers as a former AL Central Division foe.

The Bad News:  Cleveland hitters versus Mad Max:

  • Carlos Santana:  3 for 39 (.077)
  • Jason Kipnis:  6 for 31 (.194)
  • Mike Napoli: 1 for 10 (.100)
  • Lonnie Chisenhall:  6 for 28  (.214)
  • Rajai Davis:  2 for 13 (.154)
  • Roberto Perez/Chris Gimenez:  0 for 4 (.000)

The Irony:  Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes–who will not be playing Tuesday night–have torched Scherzer for a .352 batting average in 51 career at bats.

Despite the Indians’ overall struggles in career at bats against Scherzer, Mike Napoli (.394, 6 HR, 11 RBI) has been on fire amidst a 9-game hitting streak, while the hot-hitting Jose Ramirez, Abraham Almonte, and Francisco Lindor have combined for only four career at bats against the righty.  Napoli will actually receive a rare night off, as Carlos Santana will hit leadoff and play first base with no designated hitter in the NL park.

Trevor Bauer (7-5, 4.08) will toe the rubber for Cleveland, looking to quickly bounce back from his last start where he yielded a season-high eight runs against the hot-hitting Minnesota Twins.  Bauer looks to make it three straight strong starts for the rebounding Tribe rotation, following key performances by Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco in the Bronx.

KEY NOTES:

  • Head Scratcher: Interesting that Terry Francona elects to sit the red-hot Napoli (instead of Santana) in the National League Park, despite Santana’s paltry 0.77 career batting average against Scherzer.
  • Heat Scratcher, Part Deux: Chris Gimenez has seemingly become the personal catcher for Bauer, but will be held out of the lineup with Roberto Perez getting the starting nod. With a matinée to follow on Wednesday, Gimenez will probably get the start.  Curious that Francona would sit Gimenez with Bauer on the mound.
  • Favorable Splits: Despite the fact that Bauer tougher on righties (.239) than lefties (.250), he will face a Nationals lineup comprised of six right-handed hitters.
  • Favorable Splits, Part Deux: The entire active Nationals roster has only seven career at bats versus Bauer.  Hopefully the unknown benefits the Tribe right-hander to kickoff this key 2-game series.

TUESDAY NIGHT’S LINEUPS:

INDIANS NATIONALS
DH
Carlos Santana (S)
2B
Trea Turner (R)
2B
Jason Kipnis (L)  LF  Jayson Werth (R)
SS
Francisco Lindor (S)
1B
Daniel Murphy (L)
3B
Jose Ramirez (S)
3B
Anthony Rendon (R)
RF
Lonnie Chisenhall (L)  C  Wilson Ramos (R)
CF
 Tyler Naquin (L)  RF  Chris Heisey (R)
RF
 Abraham Almonte (S)  SS  Danny Espinosa (S)
C
 Roberto Perez (R)  CF  Ben Revere (L)
 P

 Trevor Bauer (R) (RHP)
P Max Scherzer (R) (RHP)

 

 

 

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