Written by Jonathan Knight

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VICTORIES OVER VERLANDER: Justin Verlander is 11-6 with a 2.60 ERA overall this season, but 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA against the Indians.

MUCH BETTER: In nine meetings with the Tigers this year, the Indians have collected seven victories - one more than they tallied against Detroit in 18 meetings last season.

ALL-TIME TOTALS: The Indians’ all-time record against the Orioles dropped to 424-389, while their mark against the Tigers jumped to 1,035-1,065.

REALITY SETS IN: Since his complete-game shutout in Minnesota on May 15, Derek Lowe is 2-8 with a 7.59 ERA. He’s allowed seven earned runs or more four times during that stretch.

CONTINUING STORYLINE: The Indians have scored three runs or less in 47 of their 99 games this season, including in 10 of their last 12.

ELITE COMPANY: The Indians and Tampa Bay are the only teams to beat Justin Verlander twice this season.

TONY TURNAROUND: In July, Tony Sipp has only allowed one earned run and three hits in 6.2 innings pitched.

DIVIDING LINE: Over the past two seasons, the Indians are 11-4 against the Tigers April through July. Last year the Tigers won 10 of their 11 meetings with the Tribe in August and September.

WINNING THE CLOSE ONES, LOSING THE BLOWOUTS: The Indians are now 15-6 in one-run games, but 10-17 in games decided by five runs or more.

JUSTIN’S JULY (AND JUNE): Since June 1, Justin Masterson is 5-4 with a 3.20 ERA. Over this stretch, he has lowered his season ERA from 5.14 to 4.12.

NEARLY PERFECT: Vinnie Pestano has not allowed a run in his last 13 appearances. In this stretch he’s allowed seven hits and walked three, while striking out 17.

WHAT HAPPENED?: When the Indians played a four-game set against the Orioles in late June, they averaged eight runs per game, hit .350, had an on-base percentage of .446 and collected 21 extra-base hits. Three weeks later, they hit .248 with an on-base percentage of .284 and collected 12 extra-base hits while averaging just over two runs per game.

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS: Since sweeping the Tigers in late May, the Indians’ record is 24-31. Over that same period, the Tigers are 33-22.

WEEKEND WOES: The Indians continue to struggle on the weekends, holding a combined 11-21 record on Saturday and Sunday while going 39-28 the rest of the week.

REALLY CHOKING IN THE CLUTCH: Since the All-Star Break, the Indians are hitting .201 (30 for 149) with runners in scoring position.

NOT HANGING IN: After their fast start last year, the Indians managed to stay at or above .500 until Aug. 24.

A YEAR AGO: After 99 games in 2011, the Indians stood at 51-48, second place in the AL Central, two games behind Detroit.

 

PROGRESS REPORT: 

The Indians are averaging 4.34 runs per game and allowing 4.79.

Batting average: .257 (9th in AL)

Slugging percentage: .402 (9th in AL)

On-base percentage: .332 (4th in AL)

Walks: 355 (2nd in AL)

Stolen bases: 63 (10th in AL)

Strikeouts: 633 (2nd-fewest in AL)

With runners in scoring position: .240 (210 for 877)

 

Team ERA: 4.47 (11th in AL)

Walks allowed: 346 (3rd-fewest in AL)

Strikeouts: 660 (3rd-fewest in AL)

Opponents with runners in scoring position: .282 (245 for 868)

Errors: 51 (5th-fewest in AL)

 

STARTING PITCHERS:

36-43, 4.68 ERA

(586.2 IP, 305 ER)

 

RELIEF PITCHERS:

14-6, 31 saves, 4 blown saves, 4.06 ERA

(297.1 IP, 134 ER)

 

INDIANS’ OVERALL RECORD IN GAMES STARTED BY:

Masterson 10-11 (13 quality starts)

Jimenez 10-10 (11 quality starts)

Lowe 9-11 (13 quality starts)

Tomlin 8-7 (7 quality starts)

Gomez 6-7 (4 quality starts)

McAllister 7-3 (6 quality starts)

 

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN GETTING QUALITY START: 39-15

INDIANS’ RECORD WHEN NOT GETTING QUALITY START: 11-34

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY UNIFORM:

White Script “Indians”: 15-11

Blue Script “Indians”: 19-13

Gray Block “Cleveland”: 10-13

Creamy white home alternate: 6-12

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY CAP:

Chief Wahoo Cap: 33-24

Block C Blue Cap: 10-13

Block C Red Cap: 5-12

Red, White & Blue Block C Red Cap: 1-0

Silver Chief Wahoo Cap: 1-0

 

INDIANS’ RECORD BY DAY OF THE WEEK:

Sunday: 6-10

Monday: 7-3

Tuesday: 8-6

Wednesday: 7-8

Thursday: 8-5

Friday: 9-6

Saturday: 5-11

 

ATTENDANCE WATCH: The Indians are averaging 20,486 fans per home game - 14th in the AL

 

BALTIMORE SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Orioles outscored the Indians, 18-9. Neither team committed an error. All of the runs scored in the series were earned.

 

Overall Hitting

Baltimore 36 for 137 (.263), 11 walks, 1 HBP (.322 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 34 for 137 (.248), 6 walks, 1 HBP (.285 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Baltimore 4 for 29 (.138), 25 left on base

Cleveland 5 for 31 (.161), 31 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Baltimore 17 (6 HR)

Cleveland 12 (5 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Baltimore 0

Cleveland 1

 

Overall Pitching

Baltimore 35 IP, 34 H, 6 BB, 23 SO, 9 ER, 2.31 ERA

Cleveland 36 IP, 36 H, 11 BB, 29 SO, 18 ER, 4.50 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Baltimore 3-1; 26.1 IP, 25 H, 5 BB, 18 SO, 6 ER, 2.05 ERA

Cleveland 1-3; 24 IP, 27 H, 6 BB, 14 SO, 15 ER, 5.63 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Baltimore 2 saves; 8.2 IP, 9 H, 1 BB, 5 SO, 3 ER, 3.11 ERA 

Cleveland 1 save; 12 IP, 9 H, 5 BB, 15 SO, 3 ER, 2.25 ERA

 

DETROIT SERIES BY THE NUMBERS:

The Indians outscored the Tigers, 11-10. The Indians committed three errors and the Tigers committed one. Two of the Tigers’ runs were unearned.

 

Overall Hitting

Detroit 27 for 102 (.265), 13 walks, 1 HBP, 1 SF (.350 on-base percentage)

Cleveland 25 for 101 (.248), 7 walks, 1 SF (.294 on-base percentage)

 

With Runners in Scoring Position

Detroit 6 for 26 (.231), 27 left on base 

Cleveland 5 for 26 (.192), 15 left on base

 

Extra-Base Hits

Detroit 4 (2 HR)

Cleveland 12 (4 HR)

 

Stolen Bases

Detroit 2

Cleveland 1 (2 caught stealing)

 

Overall Pitching

Detroit   25 IP, 25 H, 7 BB, 17 SO, 11 ER, 3.96 ERA

Cleveland   27 IP, 27 H, 13 BB, 19 SO, 8 ER, 2.67 ERA

 

Starting Pitchers

Detroit   1-2; 21 IP, 21 H, 7 BB, 16 SO, 10 ER, 4.29 ERA

Cleveland   0-1; 18.1 IP, 24 H, 7 BB, 12 SO, 6 ER, 2.95 ERA

 

Relief Pitchers

Detroit   1 save; 4 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1 ER, 2.25 ERA 

Cleveland   2-0, 2 saves; 8.2 IP, 3 H, 6 BB, 7 SO, 2 ER, 2.08 ERA

 

UP NEXT: 

at Minnesota Twins [40-58]

(Friday 8:10 p.m.; Saturday 7:10 p.m.; Sunday 2:10 p.m.)

Last year: Indians won season series, 11-7

This year: Indians lead season series, 3-2

 

at Kansas City Royals [41-57]

(Tuesday 8:10 p.m.; Wednesday 8:10 p.m.; Thursday 8:10 p.m.)

Last year: Indians won season series, 12-6

This year: Indians lead season series, 5-4

 

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