Kipnis: Indians ready to move on from difficult week
WASHINGTON -- Max Scherzer will look to continue a dominant stretch when he faces a familiar foe from his past on Tuesday night.
Scherzer and the National League East-leading Washington Nationals, fresh off taking two of three from the NL West-leading Giants, host the Cleveland Indians, the American League Central front-runners, in the opener of a two-game series.
The teams split a pair two weeks ago and are now headed in different directions.
Cleveland (62-47) has dropped five of seven following a Sunday loss to the New York Yankees, yet the Indians still lead the improving Detroit Tigers in the division race.
"It's been a difficult week, but I think everybody's ready to move on," second baseman Jason Kipnis said after the Indians went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position in a 3-2 defeat Sunday.
Scoring runs won't be easy against Scherzer (12-6, 2.87 ERA). Since the start of June, the former Tiger is 7-2 with a 1.84 ERA, having struck out 108 batters while walking just 16 in 83 1/3 innings.
He allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his past seven starts, and he hasn't lost since July 4.
Scherzer is 9-4 with a 4.42 ERA in 19 starts against his former division rival, a club he will be facing for the first time since 2014.
Kipnis is 6-for-31 (.194) in his career against Scherzer, while Carlos Santana is 3-for-39 (.077) and Lonnie Chisenall 6-for-28 (.214).
Washington (66-45) has won five of six, including a 1-0 victory Sunday as Tanner Roark outdueled Madison Bumgarner in the rubber game against the San Francisco Giants.
Playing without Bryce Harper (stiff neck), the Nationals got their only run via a Wilson Ramos homer leading off the seventh.
While Harper (.121 with one homer since the All-Star break) has been struggling, Washington's All-Star catcher is rolling, hitting safely in 19 of his last 23 games. Ramos is second in the league with a .338 average and leads all catchers with 18 home runs.
"His confidence level is high, really high," manager Dusty Baker said. "He can reach the fences in any part of the ballpark but remains within himself. He doesn't try to hit home runs all the time."
Also hot for Washington is left fielder Jayson Werth, who has reached base in 38 consecutive games, the longest streak in the majors this season. Third baseman Anthony Rendon has hit safely in 14 of his past 18 games.
Center fielder Ben Revere is batting just .208, but his running, over-the-shoulder catch at the wall saved two runs Sunday.
"Right now I'm struggling (at the plate) ... My main thing is to do everything I can to help this team get to a championship," Revere told the MASN network after the game.
Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer (7-5, 4.08 ERA) will be looking to bounce back after allowing a career-high eight runs in 2 2/3 innings Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins.
The 25-year-old Bauer, who has never faced the Nationals, is 0-3 with an 8.37 ERA in his past five starts.
Though the Indians have been losing, they are scoring. Sunday's game ended a streak of nine straight in which the Indians plated five or more runs.
Third baseman Jose Ramirez is hitting .414 (12-for-29) over the past seven games. Designated hitter/first baseman Mike Napoli has a .394 average (13-for-33) with six homers and 11 RBIs during an active nine-game hitting streak.
"We know we've got a good team, it's a long season," Napoli said. "We've got confidence in every single guy in this room."
