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Blue Jays-Indians Preview

Jun 28, 2010 - 1:15 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Toronto (40-35) at Cleveland (26-47), 7:05 p.m. EDT

With two weeks left before the All-Star break, the Cleveland Indians are getting a head start on next season.

Mired in last place in the AL Central with one of baseball's worst records, the Indians look to end a four-game home losing streak when they face the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.

The Indians (27-47) are 13 1/2 games out of first place and appear committed to a youth movement after trading slugger Russell Branyan to Seattle for two minor leaguers Saturday. The deal clears the way for prized prospect Matt LaPorta to take over as the everyday first baseman.

Cleveland called up catcher Carlos Santana, another top prospect, June 11 and the 24-year-old has hit .333 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 15 games. Outfielder Michael Brantley, acquired two years ago in the CC Sabathia trade along with LaPorta, will also likely be promoted soon.

Three years removed from coming within one win of the World Series, the Indians have the third-worst record in the majors and are on pace to lose 100 games for the first time since 1991.

"Becoming younger - we won't shy away from it," manager Manny Acta said. "The kids need to keep going hard and continue to learn at this level. This is never the easiest level to learn, but good times are coming."

Shin-Soo Choo homered twice to help the Indians end a seven-game skid with a 5-3 victory at Cincinnati on Sunday.

"I feel good about stopping the losing streak," said Choo, the team leader with 12 homers and 41 RBIs.

Acta's club won't be unhappy to see interleague play end. The Indians lost 13 of 18 against the NL for the second consecutive season.

Facing the Blue Jays (40-36), however, hasn't been a pleasant experience either lately. Toronto swept a three-game series at Progressive Field in May, and has won six of the last seven meetings there.

Struggling Jake Westbrook (4-4, 4.90 ERA) gets the start for Cleveland in the opener of this four-game set. The right-hander has gone 1-1 with a 6.38 ERA in his past four outings.

He wasn't sharp again at Philadelphia on Wednesday, yielding four runs and seven hits in five innings before leaving without a decision in a 7-6 loss.

He was lifted after 3 2-3 innings against Toronto on May 4, allowing four runs, five hits and five walks in an 8-5 loss.

Westbrook will face a Blue Jays team that is coming off an 11-2 loss to the Phillies on Sunday, the club's fifth in seven games.

Toronto made a season-high four errors.

"You can't give them so many outs," manager Cito Gaston said. "That's the worst game we've played all year."

Vernon Wells was the lone bright spot for the Jays, hitting his 19th home run to move within one of teammate Jose Bautista and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera for the major league lead.

Ricky Romero (6-3, 2.85) looks to continue his run of solid starts. Since allowing seven runs in 5 1-3 innings of an 8-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on May 25, he has gone 2-1 with a 1.75 ERA in five starts.

The left-hander was outstanding again Wednesday against St. Louis, but left without a decision despite tossing eight scoreless innings in a 1-0 defeat.

Romero won the May 4 game at Progressive Field, giving up five runs over six innings. He has won both career starts against Cleveland despite a 7.15 ERA.