Pitching-Needy Indians Get Mike Clevinger Back Monday At Rangers

The Cleveland Indians were heavy preseason favorites to win the AL Central Division for a fourth straight season but find themselves 10 games behind the surprising Minnesota Twins as of Monday. Part of the reason the Tribe have underachieved has been an injury-ravaged rotation.

Two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber hasn't pitched in the majors since May 1 due to a broken arm. He probably won't return until after the All-Star break. Carlos Carrasco has been out since the end of May with some sort of blood condition and the team still says his return is indefinite.

Then there's Mike Clevinger (1-0, 0.00), who has been out more than two months with an upper-back strain. Clevinger made two starts in the majors this season, both at home. He shut out the Blue Jays over five innings on one hit April 7 and blanked the White Sox on April 1 over seven innings also on one hit. He totaled 22 strikeouts in those outings. He will make his return Monday at the Texas Rangers with a first pitch of 8:05 p.m. ET.

Clevinger has made five appearances, three starts, spanning 22.1 innings against the Rangers in his career and is 0-1 with a 2.42 ERA. He has allowed just 13 hits with 26 strikeouts. Elvis Andrus, Joey Gallo, Ronald Guzman and Nomar Mazara are a combined 0-for-23 against him with 10 strikeouts. Delino DeShields is 2-for-8 with a homer off Clevinger. Rougned Odor 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

It's veteran right-hander Lance Lynn (7-4, 4.40) for Texas. Guy will eat innings, going at least six in nine straight starts. All but one of those have been quality, but he has gotten no-decisions in his past two due to a lack of run support. Lynn faced the Indians once last year while with Minnesota and got the win, allowing a run and two hits over six. Carlos Santana has two hits in three at-bats off him. No current Indian has homered against Lynn.

Cleveland is a short favorite on the MLB odds.