Guardians 8 - 1 Tigers
Final
  for this game

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Sep 4, 2015 - 5:03 PM The progress the Cleveland Indians made on a six-game winning streak has been diminished with consecutive losses, and now their ace won't available as they try to avoid another.

Corey Kluber was scratched for the fringe wild-card contenders just hours before Friday night's opener of a three-game series against the spiraling Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

The Indians have scratched the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner due to a strained right hamstring. It's uncertain how long Kluber will be sidelined, though he is expected to pitch again this season.

Starting in Kluber's place will be Josh Tomlin (3-1, 3.08 ERA), who will be going on four days' rest and has pitched well in four starts since returning from shoulder surgery which had kept him out all season.

Tomlin hasn't faced the Tigers this year but was dreadful against them last season, going 1-3 with a 10.38 ERA in five games. Two of those were starts and he failed to get through five innings either time. Ian Kinsler is 5 for 10 lifetime against him and Miguel Cabrera has gone 4 for 9 with a homer.

Tomlin, though, has gone at least six innings in each start this year despite giving up seven homers.

Cleveland (64-68) could use another strong outing from Tomlin after dropping the last two of a three-game set in Toronto, and Wednesday's 5-1 defeat dropped it six games back of Texas for the second wild card after getting within four on Monday.

The lineup went quiet with four hits, but the bullpen is keeping the Indians in games with a 1.19 ERA in 22 2-3 innings over the last seven.

Relievers could again be relied upon against Detroit (61-72) with Cleveland starters posting a 6.86 ERA in 12 meetings this season. The Indians are 3-9, and the rotation has stomached eight of the losses.

It might help that Detroit's staff has been far worse lately. The Tigers lost 15-7 at Kansas City on Thursday for their 11th defeat in 13 games, and the last five have come with an 11.63 ERA and .390 opponent average. After a 1-5 road trip, they're more than 10 games under .500 for the first time since finishing 2008 at 74-88.

"You better learn from it," manager Brad Ausmus said. "You better try to get better `cause if it gets any worse, I don't know what we'll do. This was a very tough road trip for the pitching staff."

Detroit is switching things up with Kyle Lobstein, who hasn't started since May 23 when he landed on the disabled list with shoulder soreness. Lobstein (3-5, 4.34) dropped his final three starts with a 7.36 ERA, but his first two wins of the season came against the Indians.

The left-hander allowed six runs in 12 innings of the April wins, though his 2-0 record in four starts against Cleveland comes with a 4.84 ERA. Ryan Raburn (4 for 8) and Carlos Santana (4 for 9 with a home run) have hit him well.

The 26-year-old spent nearly a month rehabbing in the minors, making six starts with an 0-3 record and a 5.68 ERA.






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