Indians Begin Four-Game Series at Progressive Field Tonight Against Tampa Bay; The Tribe Starting Nine

The Indians are in a tailspin after three straight losses to the Oakland A’s, a team they have to be happy about not having to play again in 2019.

Sitting now at 25-23, the Tribe now welcomes in another top AL contender, the Tampa Bay Rays, who at 28-18 are playing solid baseball over the first two months of the season.

Adam Plutko, who was impressive in his first outing against the Baltimore Orioles, will toe the rubber tonight for the Indians, while Tampa sends lefty Ryan Yarbrough to the mound.

The lefty for the Rays is 2-1, with an 8.10 ERA this season. The Rays thrower has found success over his four outings with Durham, posting a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings.

The Tribe bats were silent for the most part again on Wednesday in a loss to the A’s, as Jake Bauers‘ two-run homer was their only runs of the afternoon.

The Indians are seven games back of the Twins and some feel are fading fast in a division that they have won the last three seasons.

Here’s the Indians starting nine:

Francisco Lindor SS
Jason Kipnis 2B
Carlos Santana 1B
Jordan Luplow RF
Jose Ramirez 3B
Jake Bauers DH
Eric Haase C
Leonys Martin CF
Oscar Mercado LF

And the Rays Starting Lineup:

Here's the #Rays lineup for tonight with Ryan Yarbrough recalled to start:
Meadows DH
Pham LF
Choi 1B
Garcia RF
Lowe 2B
Adames SS
Kiermaier CF
Kratz C
Robertson 3B

— Neil Solondz (@neilsolondz) May 23, 2019