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Indians-Blue Jays Preview

May 3, 2009 - 9:24 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Cleveland (9-15) at Toronto (17-9), 7:07 p.m. EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays can credit their success against the AL Central as a big reason for their strong start.

The Blue Jays look to continue taking advantage of that division Monday when they open a two-game set against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre.

Toronto (18-9) has won 11 games against the AL Central this season, including taking two of three at Cleveland (9-16) from April 10-12. Adam Lind was 5-for-14 with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs in that series for the Blue Jays.

Toronto is looking to win a season-high fourth straight after sweeping a weekend home series with Baltimore. The Blue Jays closed the three-game set with a 4-3 victory Sunday, as Vernon Wells and Alex Rios each homered.

Wells has hit safely in his last six games, going 9-for-24 (.375) with seven RBIs.

The Blue Jays, who have matched their best start since the 1992 World Series-winning team, continued their hot hitting over the weekend by scoring 17 runs. Toronto is one of the top offensive teams in the majors, averaging 5.9 runs and hitting .292. It's averaging 6.4 runs and hitting .309 in 18 games against the AL Central.

"It's been great," said catcher Rod Barajas, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI Sunday and has gone 10-for-17 in his past four games. "This is what we wanted, this is what we expected and we need to keep it going."

The Blue Jays will try to extend their win streak when they face Fausto Carmona (1-3, 6.28 ERA), who takes the mound for the struggling Indians.

Carmona allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-5, 10-inning loss against Boston on Wednesday. It was his longest start of the season and the fewest runs he's allowed.

Carmona is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays. He pitched a complete game the last time he faced them, allowing five hits in a 3-0 win May 12.

The Indians are hoping he can help them get back on track after they dropped the final two games of a three-game series with Detroit over the weekend, losing 3-1 on Sunday.

Cleveland managed three hits in the loss, including Asdrubal Cabrera's RBI single in the third inning. The Indians had scored five or more runs in the previous four games, but couldn't produce enough runs to keep reigning AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee from receiving his fourth loss of the season.

"It is my job to keep us in games," said Lee, who went 22-3 last year. "I was mostly happy with what I did, but it wasn't enough."

Cleveland hopes to have better luck against Toronto's Brian Tallet (1-1, 6.45), who is coming off his worst start of the season.

Tallet, moved into the rotation because of injuries, made his third start of 2009 on Wednesday against Kansas City, allowing 10 runs and 11 hits - three home runs - over four innings of an 11-3 loss.

The left-hander doesn't have a decision in seven relief appearances against the Indians. He's allowed six runs over nine innings in his career against them, including three runs in 2 1-3 innings April 10 in a 13-7 Toronto win.

The Blue Jays were swept at home by the Indians last season, scoring four runs over the three games.