(SportsNetwork.com) - The Cleveland Indians haven't had much success with Corey Kluber on the hill this season and the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner gets the nod Saturday in the middle test of a three-game series versus the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field.
The Indians are 1-8 when Kluber toes the rubber and he did not record a decision in Monday's 2-1 road loss against the Chicago White Six.
Kluber went the distance and allowed one run and five hits with 12 strikeouts to just one walk. Kluber, who leads the majors with 76 K's, has a 1-5 record to go along with a 3.79 ERA in nine starts. He has allowed just one run in his last two starts and is 1-2 in four outings at Progressive Field.
The right-hander has faced the Reds once in his career and tossed 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball for the win.
Cleveland recorded a 7-3 win over Cincinnati on Friday, as Carlos Carrasco pitched well for the victory and gave up two runs in six innings. Brandon Moss homered and drove in three runs and Jason Kipnis ended with three hits, two RBI and a pair of runs scored, helping the Indians to their fourth straight win and eighth in 12 tries.
Kipnis has hit safely in 18 of 20 games this month.
"When you start having a little bit of success, I certainly think it helps with the confidence," said Cleveland manager Terry Francona.
Cincinnati looks to even this set and get back on track, and has dropped six straight and nine of the last 12 contests.
Todd Frazier had two hits and drove in a run, while Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake lasted only four innings and allowed five runs with five walks.
"(Leake) was around the zone, a lot of close pitches, but wasn't able to make the pitches he needed to and used a lot of pitches in the (second) inning," said Cincinnati manager Bryan Price.
Anthony DeSclafani hopes to have better success than Leake when he gets the ball Saturday. DeSclafani is 2-4 with a 3.80 earned run average in eight starts and is winless (0-4) in his previous five appearances. In Sunday's 9-8 loss to San Francisco, DeSclafani allowed six runs in a season-low three innings of work.
The right-hander has allowed at least three runs in each of his past four starts and is 2-2 in four road assignments. DeSclafani has never faced the Indians.
Cincinnati won three of four matchups versus the Tribe last season.
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