(My Sportsbook) - Right-hander Jake Westbrook looks for his third win in four starts tonight when the
Cleveland Indians head to Tropicana Field for the second of three games with the host
Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Westbrook, who missed the early months of the season with injuries, was 1-6 through his initial seven decisions, but has since won two of three in August.
He defeated Texas with six innings of five-hit ball on August 2, then allowed just two hits and a run in eight innings of Cleveland's 2-1 win against the Chicago White Sox five days later.
The streak ended on August 12, when he was touched for nine hits and four runs over seven innings in a 5-3 loss to the New York Yankees.
Westbrook is 5-2 in 11 career starts against Tampa Bay, posting a 3.89 earned run average in 71 2/3 innings.
Former reliever Jason Hammel faces the Indians for the second time this season on Saturday.
Hammel, a 24-year-old right-hander, was reached for five hits and three runs in just 1 2/3 innings of relief against Cleveland on June 30, getting a no-decision in the Devil Rays' 8-6 loss.
Tampa Bay is just 3-12 in Hammel's 15 appearances, with his last win coming June 18 in Arizona, when he pitched a hitless and scoreless 2 1/3 innings for a 10-2 win over the Diamondbacks.
The former 10th-round draft pick has an 11.57 ERA in seven career innings against Cleveland, allowing 14 hits and nine runs.
On Friday, Paul Byrd gave up just one run as the Indians downed the Devil Rays, 2-1.
Byrd (11-5) gave up eight hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six innings of work for the Indians, who have won two straight after a four-game losing streak.
Ryan Garko and Asdrubal Cabrera each drove in a run while Victor Martinez went 3-for-4 for Cleveland, which is now a half-game up on the Tigers, who lost to the Yankees, for first place in the AL Central.
Carl Crawford drove in the lone run and Edwin Jackson (3-12) got the loss as he gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings of work for the Devil Rays, who have lost four of their last five games.
Cleveland has dominated the Devil Rays as of late. The Tribe is 7-1 against them this season and has won 14 of the last 16 meetings.
