Despite a .500 record, the Cleveland Indians are one of the hottest offensive teams in baseball. They are averaging over six runs per game with a home run in each of their first eight. They’ve gotten contributions from young and old as 34-year old Travis Hafner and sophomore second baseman Jason Kipnis are off to great starts.
Hafner has two home runs and 5 RBI so far this year, while Kipnis has added three bombs and seven RBI. That’s allowed Cleveland to score eight or more runs in each of its first three road games for the first time in franchise history.
“It was great for us confidence-wise,” Hafner told the team website. “We feel like we have a good offense, with a bunch of guys capable of hitting 15 to 20 homers. We feel like we can keep it going from here.”
They will try to break the .500 mark on Tuesday night as they face the surging Seattle Mariners on the road.
The Mariners, who scored fewer runs than any team in baseball a year ago, are 6-5 after dominating the Oakland Athletics to start the year. They’ve won five of seven against Oakland despite a meager slugging percentage just over .350 that ranks second to last in the American League.
Justin Masterson is tasked with keeping it that way. The Indians starter was brilliant in his first start before being roughed up by the Chicago White Sox. He’s 3-0 against Seattle lifetime and is keeping hitters at a batting average just over .200.
Mariners leadoff hitter Chone Figgins is just 1 for 14 against Masterson.
Masterson will face off against Mariners starter Kevin Millwood, still fighting for a spot in the rotation. He was good in his first start of the year, too, and has a 4-2 career record against the Indians.
“Next time out it’s going to be pretty much all about locating,” Millwood told Seattle’s team website. “If I can locate my fastball, everything else kind of works from there.”
He’ll need Jesus Montero to keep his offensive streak going. The rookie, acquired in a winter trade from the New York Yankees, is 10 for his last 31 with five RBI.
Bovada is favoring the Indians by 1 1/2 runs, with a -115 money line.