The Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Indians continue a three-game series in the American League Tuesday night at Progressive Field

Los Angeles Angels at Cleveland Indians

Los Angeles entered its series with Cleveland with the second-best record in baseball since June 13, but dropped a 3-2 contest at Progressive Field Monday night.  Angels closer Jordan Walden blew his seventh save in 30 attempts this year and the club has now fallen four games back in the American League West race.  Much of the team’s season will hinge on its performance away from Angel Stadium, playing 20 of 29 games on the road after the All-Star break.  Los Angeles is currently 3-5 in that important span, including wins in two of three games in Baltimore over the weekend.  Los Angeles is 24-18 when playing winning teams this year and 38-31 versus right-handed starters.

Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver is 13-4 with a 1.81 ERA in 21 starts this season and has won seven consecutive decisions.  The right-hander has tallied 12 straight quality starts and enters with the lowest mark in club history at this point of the year.  He has posted a winning 7-3 mark and 1.89 ERA in 12 road outings, as opposing hitters have managed to hit just .197 against him.  In 11 lifetime starts versus the Indians, Weaver is 4-2 with a 3.64 ERA, but was handed a 4-3 home loss on May 7 against them.  He allowed four runs and seven hits over six frames in that outing.

Cleveland has simply been treading water of late by winning 11 of its last 22 games, but last night’s walk-off victory may jolt the club heading into the final week of July.  The win also ended a four-game losing streak for the Indians, who entered the series 1.5 games back in the Central race.  It’s important to mention that the squad has yet to face a deficit of more than two games in the division all year, but its also dropped nine games in the division standings since May 24.  The bullpen allowed both of the Angels’ runs Monday, but is still the fifth-best unit in the AL with a 3.37 ERA.  Cleveland is 40-30 at night and 40-33 when facing right-handed starters.

Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin is 11-4 with a 4.12 ERA in 20 starts this season and the club has alternated wins and losses in his last six outings.  He was handed a no-decision in Cleveland’s 7-5 loss in Minnesota in his last appearance, giving up four runs and eight hits over six frames.  Tomlin’s numbers have dropped off from his great opening month of posting a 2.45 ERA, as he enters with a 5.25 ERA in July through four starts.  In two career outings versus the Indians, the 26-year-old is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA, with both starts coming last year.  He picked up a 4-3 home win in his only start against Los Angeles at Progressive Field on September 14, 2010, surrendering three runs and seven hits over 6 2/3 frames.

Bettors will be interested in backing the Angels due to their 4-1 record in Weaver’s last five road starts versus the Indians, while the Tribe is 2-9 in their last 11 games as a home underdog