Preview: Indians Start Four-Game Set with WS Champion Astros Tonight at Progressive Field

CLEVELAND - Following a pair of wins in Chicago that ended a short road trip at 3-2, the Tribe returns home tonight to kickoff a wrap around series with the

CLEVELAND - Following a pair of wins in Chicago that ended a short road trip at 3-2, the Tribe returns home tonight to kickoff a wrap around series with the defending World Series Champion Houston Astros.

The Indians last season went 2-1 at home against the Astros, winning the last two after falling in the first game of a three-game set that took place in late April.

Over this last weekend the Indians won the middle game of the three-game set, with Corey Kluber doing what he does best, and Cody Allen hanging on in the 9th for a 5-4 win on Saturday.

The first game of the four-game set will see the Indians go with Mike Clevinger, as he'll take on Charlie Morton for the Stros.

Here's a preview of game one of the four-game set at Progressive Field.

Time: 6:10 p.m.

Starting Pitchers: RHP Mike Clevinger (3-1, 2.87) vs. RHP Charlie Morton (6-0, 1.94)

TV: SportsTime Ohio

Online: MLB.TV

Radio: WTAM 1100am, Indians Radio Network

1. Where Did Charlie Morton Come From?

When you look at the numbers for Thursday's Astros starter Charlie Morton, your eyes probably bug out a little, as he's been sensational this season, going 6-0 with an ERA of 1.94 to start the year.

Morton may be 6-0, but the team is 6-3 in the nine starts he's made this season, and he's had two games allowing three runs or more, and in both those games the Astros lost.

This season Morton's two-seam fastball velocity has been excellent, and last season his two-seamer clocked in at an average of 95.7 mph.

He shut down the Tribe in the first game the two teams played last Friday, going seven solid innings and earning the win.

At 34 years old, Morton had a below average career before going 14-7 with a World Series ring with Houston in 2017. In seven seasons with the Pirates he went 41-62, with his best season being 2013 in which he went 7-4.

He's comfortable with what he's doing on the mound, and the Tribe will have their work cut out for them in this one.

2. Crafty Clevinger

As good as Charlie Morton has been for Houston at 6-0, Indians starter Mike Clevinger has been solid as well, going 3-1 with a very good 2.87 ERA in nine starts thus far for the Tribe in 2018.

This will be an interesting start for Clevinger, who pitched the first game of the three-game set against the Astros last Friday, taking his first loss of the season as the Tribe fell 3-1.

In that game he went 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. His issue last Friday was the walks, as he allowed a season high four base on balls, striking out six throwing 106 pitches.

Clevinger has been up and down at home thus far, as the team is 2-3 in his five starts at Progressive Field. His worst start at home came back on April 13th against the Blue Jays, giving up four runs on three hits in four innings in an eventual Indians 8-4 loss.

3. Will the 'O' Show?

The Indians offense, which has been so much better as of late, had a rather quiet weekend in Houston, as the team scored two runs in their two losses to the Astros, and putting up a five-spot in their lone win on Saturday.

All in all it was a tough weekend at the plate for the Wahoo's, and it started with the three guys at the top of the lineup who have been great over the last month.

Consider the following numbers for the Tribe's top three hitters in the three-game set in Houston.

Francisco Lindor - 1-13 with three strikeouts
Michael Brantley - 3-12 with one strikeout
Jose Ramirez - 3-for-11 with two strikeouts

Those three top Indians hitters went a combined 7-for-36 (.194) striking out six times in the three games.

The top of the order is what seems to daily drive the lineup in one direction or another, and last weekend it didn't do much driving but more stalling against the Astros.