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Indians-Blue Jays Preview

Jul 31, 2010 - 10:22 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Cleveland (42-61) at Toronto (54-49), 1:07 p.m. EDT

The Cleveland Indians have had to quickly scramble their starting rotation after trading Jake Westbrook.

Jeanmar Gomez, who had an impressive major league debut two weeks ago, is scheduled to be called up from the minors to take the ball for the Indians in Sunday's finale against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cleveland (43-61) dealt Westbrook to St. Louis in a three-team trade involving San Diego on Saturday. The Indians got right-hander Corey Kluber from the Padres, and assigned the Texas League's strikeout leader to Double-A Akron.

Westbrook, Cleveland's opening day starter and an All-Star in 2004, was scratched less than an hour before he was scheduled to pitch.

Josh Tomlin was pressed into the starting role, and the right-hander did a solid job, allowing one run and four hits with five strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings of a 2-1 victory, Cleveland's second in eight contests.

Before the game ended, the Indians sent closer Kerry Wood to the New York Yankees just before the non-waiver trade deadline. Wood had been activated from the disabled list earlier on Saturday.

"I'm glad it's over," manager Manny Acta said. "That way we can just move on."

Tomlin, working on three days' rest after beating the Yankees on Tuesday in his major league debut, was originally slated to pitch the series finale, meaning Cleveland again had to shuffle its rotation.

Trying for their sixth win in seven games against the Blue Jays (54-50), the Indians will turn to Gomez (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

The right-hander had a stellar debut for Cleveland, allowing two unearned runs and five hits in seven innings of a 7-2 victory over Detroit on July 18.

Although he looked sharp in a spot start, the 22-year-old was immediately sent back to Triple-A Columbus. Gomez, who pitched a perfect game for Akron in May 2009, recorded a 1.80 ERA while winning his next two starts for the Clippers.

He'll be facing a Toronto club that leads the majors with a 158 home runs.

Jose Molina went deep for the Blue Jays on Saturday. Aside from that, Toronto managed just four singles, and had its four-game winning streak snapped.

Jesse Litsch (1-4, 5.48) looks to help the Blue Jays bounce back when he takes the mound.

Litsch allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-5 loss to Detroit last Sunday, but didn't get a decision. The right-hander has a 3.00 ERA in his last three starts after recording a 7.30 ERA in his first five outings.

Litsch pitched well in his only start against the Indians, yielding two runs and four hits in six innings of a 3-1 loss June 30. Carlos Santana had two hits and Shin-Soo Choo had a solo homer.

Choo doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning Saturday, and is batting .371 with six doubles and four RBIs in nine games since coming off the disabled list with a sprained right thumb.

Choo hasn't homered since June 30, but continues to lead the team with 13.