A struggling Cleveland Indians lineup should get back one of its key components on Monday night in a potential American League playoff preview.
Catcher Victor Martinez expects to return to the lineup Monday for the first time since Opening Day when the Indians open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels, with Cleveland a -120 favorite tonight (over/under: 8.5) on WagerWeb.com.
Martinez has been out of the lineup for the last five games for Cleveland (3-3) after he strained his left hamstring in last Monday's 10-8 win over the Chicago White Sox.
"We're going to have him come in early, take early (batting practice) and let him run the bases," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "If he's OK, he's in the lineup (Monday) night."
The Indians look like they are badly in need of their cleanup hitter, who led them in batting average (.301), homers (25) and RBIs (114) last season.
Wedge has used five different lineups in the games Martinez missed.
"It's different with Victor not being in here," Wedge said. "When Victor is in there, we're going to be a little more consistent. Without him being in there, we're going to be a little more creative and maybe a little more proactive."
Indians players were clearly pressing in the games Martinez missed, swinging early in counts and making themselves easy outs. All of which makes Martinez's return to the lineup a matter of urgency.The Indians have hit .173 (15-93) and scored a total of seven runs in their last four games, three of them losses. Two of those four games ended in scores of 2-1. In their 2-1 win over Oakland on Sunday, the Indians scored their only two runs on an infield groundout and a bases loaded walk.
Ryan Garko (.333), who had a five-game hitting streak snapped Sunday, is the Tribe's hottest hitter.
The Angels head into the series opener in a familiar position - first place in the American League West with a half-game lead over Texas. Cleveland comes in a game out in the AL Central.
The Halos battled the Indians 10 times in 2007, splitting the season series at five games apiece. But the Angels were 4-3 in the seven games the clubs played at Angel Stadium.
Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick will look to continue his recent hot streak. Kendrick has hit safely in all seven games thus far this season, batting at a .444 clip for the year. He is a lifetime .310 hitter against Cleveland.
Anaheim got some good news Sunday despite losing to Texas. Relief pitcher Scot Shields made his '08 debut, pitching a scoreless eighth inning. A shield was activated from the 15-day DL Saturday after missing the first week of the season with tightness in his right forearm.
Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona (1-0, 1.29 ERA) has never faced the Angels, but is coming off giving up one run and four hits in seven innings of a 7-2 win over the White Sox. The right-hander didn't allow more than three runs in any of his road starts last season, going 9-4 with a 2.80 ERA in 16 outings.
However, the Angels lead the league in hitting at .301, even though star Vladimir Guerrero is only hitting .150 over his last five games.
Joe Saunders (1-0, 0.00) makes his first home start of the season for the Angels. He allowed four hits over eight innings in a 1-0 win at Minnesota on Wednesday. The left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two career starts against the Indians. Slugger Travis Hafner is 0-for-5 with three strikeouts against him.
Betting trends: Over is 6-2-1 in Indians' last 9 road games. ... Indians are 20-8 in their last 28 Monday games. ... Indians are 35-17 in their last 52 overall. ... Over is 8-3 in Joe Saunders' last 11 starts on grass. ... Angels are 22-10 in Saunders' last 32 starts. ... Angels are 13-6 in Saunders' last 19 home starts. ... Under is 8-1 in teams' last 9 meetings.
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