Indians resume playoff push, series with Astros

With seven wins in their last nine games, the Cleveland Indians have made a surge to a possible wild card spot as the season winds down.

With eight games remaining, all against non-contending teams, the Indians have a shot at the postseason for the first time since 2007 when they won the AL Central. The Tribe likely won't win the division, as they're six games behind Detroit, but go into Saturday holding one of the two wild card spots. They are a half-game ahead of Texas.

Scott Kazmir, who has just one victory over his last seven appearances, tries to overcome his inconsistent efforts. He's given up 16 hits and seven earned runs over his last two starts, both losses to the hard-charging Kansas City Royals, who are also in playoff contention.

Kazmir is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two games against Houston.

Paul Clemens makes his fourth career start for the Astros. The righty went a career-high seven innings and held the Angels to a pair of runs on six hits in a 2-1 loss on Sunday. He is 5-4 with a 5.54 ERA on the year.

Last night, Zach McAllister tossed five-plus innings of one-run ball in the Indians' 2-1 rain-shortened victory in the second installment of the four-game set.

The tilt was delayed for 69 minutes before the umpires called the contest after 6 1/2 innings.

McAllister (9-9) surrendered four hits and two walks while fanning two for the Tribe, who have won seven of their last nine games.

Brett Oberholtzer (4-4) allowed a pair of unearned runs on four hits and three walks in a six-inning complete game for Houston, which dropped its seventh straight game.

The Indians won two of three from the Astros when the teams played at Houston in April. Houston entered the week with an 11-10 lead in the all-time series.