Holy Toledo, these interleague games are beleaguering the Indians! After Wednesday night’s loss to the Padres, Cleveland is a woeful 2-11 in interleague play this season. On Thursday, the Tribe will try to avoid the series sweep by San Diego.

As Susan Petrone pointed out in Wednesday’s recap, the Indians have no business losing to the Padres, who rank last in the National League in team batting average and runs scored. Yet here we are looking to claw out a single victory against a lackluster NL team. So far, the Indians have managed to defeat only the Reds and the Dodgers one game apiece in interleague play. After Thursday, the Tribe has only 6 six interleague games remaining (thank God!), with half of those contests against the (currently) last-place San Francisco Giants in scenic AT&T Park.

But first things first. The Padres reach for the broom by sending 24-year-old right-hand rookie Dinelson Lamet (3-2, 5.35 ERA) to the mound. Crap! His first name is ominously close to what Mr. Miyagi called the Karate Kid — and we all know how that youngster fared against the odds. Lamet was impressive in his last outing against the Braves, going 7 shutout innings with 8 strikeouts.

Cleveland counters with a starter going the opposite way of late — Josh Tomlin (4-9, 6.17 ERA) In his last 6 starts, Tomlin is 1-3, with a 6.90 ERA including 9 homers. However, just when I think Tomlin needs to go packing to the Minors, he comes through with a game of pinpoint control and outfoxing the hitters.

With skipper Terry Francona still out of action due to medical reasons, interim manager Brad Mills is using Michael Brantley as DH, giving Edwin Encarnacion the leather at first base and resting Carlos Santana (much to my delight, frankly). Jason Kipnis returns to second base after a bout with neck spasms.

Here are Thursday’s full starting line-ups:

Padres Indians
DH
Jose Pirela
2B
Jason Kipnis
CF
Manuel Margot SS Francisco Lindor
1B
Wil Myers
DH
Michael Brantley
RF
Hunter Renfroe
1B
Edwin Encarnacion
3B
Cory Spangenberg
3B
Jose Ramirez
SS
Erik Aybar
RF
Lonnie Chisenhall
2B
Carlos Asuaje
LF
Abraham Almonte
LF
Allen Cordoba
CF
Bradley Zimmer
C
Luis Torrens
C
Yan Gomes
SP
Dinelson Lamet
SP
Josh Tomlin

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