VENUE: Rogers Centre
Toronto didn't fare well in its last trip Cleveland. The Blue Jays also have not had much success at home against the Indians of late.
Looking to change that, the Blue Jays try to build on a successful start to their homestand with a fourth straight victory Friday night against the Indians.
Toronto (53-49) has won five of six overall, and opened this week's six-game homestand with a sweep of Baltimore. The Blue Jays are 12-0 against the Orioles this season, but have struggled against Cleveland (42-60).
Though the Indians have lost six of eight overall, they are 4-3 in the season series with Toronto. After getting swept by the Blue Jays from May 3-5, Cleveland won four straight June 28-July 1. Both those series were at home for the Indians, who have won six of their last eight at Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays lead the majors with 155 home runs, but didn't hit any while being held to seven runs in their last series with Cleveland.
"We were able to keep them in the ballpark," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "It was big."
Toronto has now homered in 10 straight games. Lyle Overbay hit a three-run shot Wednesday as the Blue Jays beat the Orioles 5-0 to complete the sweep. All-Star third baseman Jose Bautista had his homer streak snapped at three games, but still leads the majors with 30 home runs, and is 10 for 16 with four homers and nine RBIs in his last four games.
Bautista has two homers against the Indians this season, but both came in the first two meetings of the season series. He's 4 for 18 in the last five matchups.
Toronto probable starter Shaun Marcum (9-4, 3.36 ERA) allowed six runs in four innings of a 6-1 loss at Cleveland on July 1, and landed on the disabled list with elbow inflammation the following day. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in two starts since returning, though, and allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 3-2 win at Detroit on Saturday.
"Keeping them off-balanced. Keeping the ball out of the zone," Marcum told the Blue Jays' official website.
Cleveland will counter with Justin Masterson (3-9, 5.19), who got the better of Marcum and the Blue Jays on July 1, but has not won since.
The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.56 ERA in four outings since limiting the Blue Jays to one run over 8 1-3 innings in his first career start against Toronto. He gave up four runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Cleveland looks to avoid a third straight defeat after falling 11-4 to the New York Yankees on Thursday. The Indians, who have totaled 18 runs in their last eight games, hope to have Travis Hafner in the lineup after he rested his surgically repaired right shoulder Thursday.
Hafner has been one of Cleveland's hottest hitters, going 13 for 29 in his last eight games. He is 0 for 7 with four strikeouts in his last two against the Blue Jays, but 3 for 10 with a homer and two doubles off Marcum.
