Indians Start Three-Game Set Tonight Against Angels; Three Keys to a Tribe Win

Last season the Indians went a perfect 6-0 against the Los Angeles Angels, a team they will start a three-game set against tonight in Los Angeles.

Mike Clevinger will get the start for the Indians, hoping to turn the Tribe fortune around reversed after the team dropped two of three to the Mariners to start the 2018 season.

Sunday saw the Indians build an early 2-0 lead, but a bullpen breakdown by Dan Otero and Tyler Olsen cost the team as they allowed three runs in the 7th inning in an eventual 5-4 loss.

One of the bright spots of the Sunday setback was that Edwin Encarnacion, who hit a solo homer in the 4th and a two-run shot in the 8th to bring the Indians within one, but it was as close as they would get.

Here’s a look at the breakdown for tonight's opener against the Angels.

Date: Monday, April 2

Time: 10:10 p.m. ET

Location: Angels Stadium — Los Angeles, CA

Starting Pitchers:CLE – Mike Clevinger vs LAA – J.C. Ramirez

TV Channel: Fox Sports Ohio

Online Stream: MLB.TV

Radio: AM WTAM 1100

Click the next pages for the keys to an Indians win tonight against the Angels.

1. Beware of the Trout

The Angels everyday lineup is not one that's expected to drive fear into a lot of pitchers, but one player who might just be the best in baseball at the plate is that of Angels outfielder Mike Trout.

The best player for Los Angeles is 6-for-14 with a home run, double and four RBI, this after he started the season 0-for-6 in the season-opening loss to the A's.

Last season he hit .306 with 33 homers and 72 runs batted in, with a slugging percentage of .629. He's one player that all Indians pitchers all have to keep an eye on over the next three days and not allow him to beat them.

2. Something to Prove

Mike Clevinger has worked hard in becoming a pitcher that the Indians are hoping can be a solid number four starter for them, and tonight against the team that drafted him he will look to get the Indians back to winning ways.

Clevinger was a fourth-round draft pick by the Angels in 2011, and spent three seasons with them before he eventually came over to the Indians, and last season showed he's got what it takes to be a solid starter in the Majors.

Last season he was 12-6 with a 3.11 ERA, and this season with the injury to Danny Salazar, he's got another shot to be a major part of this rotation, and his first chance to make that impact comes tonight against his former team.

3. Encarnacion's Hot Start

It's a huge plus for the Indians to get a hot start from first basemen Edwin Encarnacion, who homered twice Sunday in the loss to the Mariners.

EE hit 33 bombs last season and .277 overall, and now in the second year of his huge deal inked last year with the Indians, they are hoping from even more from him, and this quick start they hope is a sign of big things to come.

"I feel good. It's good for me," he Encarnacion, when asked about starting faster than last year via Cleveland.com. "It's only three games, but I feel great at the plate. I'm seeing the ball good. I want to continue to be that consistent."

Edwin to start the year is hitting .333, with two homers and three runs batted in.