MLB Game Preview - Cleveland at Tampa Bay

Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:10 PM EDT

Francisco Lindor is showing considerable power during his 11-game hitting streak, with four homers in his last six contests paving the way for Cleveland Indians' ascent in the standings.

The Indians bid for their sixth win in seven outings on Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Cleveland, which has won 50 of its last 75 contests, resides 3 1/2 games behind American League Central-leading Minnesota. The Indians hold the top wild-card spot with a 1 1/2-game edge over Oakland and 2 1/2-game lead over Tampa Bay, which prevented a season high-tying fifth straight loss with a 9-8 victory over Houston on Thursday.

Lindor belted a solo shot in the third inning of Cleveland's 2-0 victory over Detroit on Thursday afternoon, giving the 25-year-old homers in back-to-back contests for the first time since Aug. 3-4.

The power display enabled Lindor to become the first Indians middle infielder with three consecutive seasons of at least 25 home runs and the first on the team to accomplish the feat since Travis Hafner (2004-06).

Lindor also had a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to provide an insurance run.

"I put a good swing on it," Lindor said. "I thought it was going to at least get down, but I hit it too high and (center fielder Harold) Castro made a good play. It got the job done, so it's all good."

Cleveland manager Terry Francona has enjoyed the view of Lindor's offensive performance.

"When he sinks under .300, he hits the ball the other way for a few days," Francona said. "Then he hits the ball out of the ballpark. He's a pretty special kid."

Lindor, however, struggled in the Indians' previous series against Tampa Bay, going 2-for-14 as the Rays won three of the four meetings on May 23-26.

Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber (12-6, 3.23 ERA) will look to snap a three-start winless skid when he takes the mound on Friday.

Bieber answered two straight losses with a no-decision on Sunday despite allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in seven innings against Kansas City. The 24-year-old has permitted two earned runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts.

Bieber, who owns a 1-1 mark with a 2.65 ERA in three career starts against Tampa Bay, received a no-decision versus Tampa Bay on May 24 despite yielding one run on four hits with 10 strikeouts in five innings.

Tommy Pham had a pair of singles on Thursday to extend his hitting streak to seven games, during which he has four runs scored. The 31-year-old went 6-for-18 with two homers in the previous series with Cleveland and is 3-for-11 with a pair of doubles in his career versus Bieber.

Travis d'Arnaud belted a two-run homer and had a pair of RBI singles on Thursday to highlight his second three-hit performance in five games.

"To have this good momentum heading in to play the Indians ... they are a good team. It will be a fun time playing against them and I'm really looking forward to it," said the 30-year-old d'Arnaud, who has recorded all 14 of his homers since June 6.

Ji-Man Choi has collected two hits -- including a double -- and two runs scored in back-to-back games for the Rays, who have yet to announce their starting pitcher for the series opener against Cleveland.

--Field Level Media