Preview: Kluber Looks to Slow Down the Astros for the Indians Tonight at Progressive Field

CLEVELAND - Coming off Thursday night's lackluster 8-2 loss to the Astros at Progressive Field, the Indians are back at it tonight in game two of the wrap

CLEVELAND - Coming off Thursday night's lackluster 8-2 loss to the Astros at Progressive Field, the Indians are back at it tonight in game two of the wrap around four-game set at 7:10pm.

Corey Kluber will go for the Indians, he won the lone game of the Indians-Astros three-game set last weekend in the Lone Star State, throwing a solid game in an eventual 5-4 win on Saturday.

Kluber will go up against Houston ace Dallas Keuchel, who the Indians got to for four runs in the win on Saturday.

Here's a quick look and preview for the Friday night affair in what will be a jam packed Downtown with the Cavs playing for their season next door at Quicken Loans Arena.

Time: 7:10 p.m.

Starting Pitchers: RHP Corey Kluber (7-2, 2.36) vs. RHP Dallas Keuchel (3-6, 3.43)

TV: SportsTime Ohio

Online: MLB.TV

Radio: WTAM 1100am, Indians Radio Network

1. Kluber Day

It's always a good day when Corey Kluber takes the mound, and here we are on a Friday where hopefully the Tribe ace can get the team back on track following the loss on Thursday.

Kluber was very good last Saturday, going seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits with no walks, 10 strikeouts and he allowed one homer.

The Indians Cy Young Award winner has not pitched less than six innings in any start thus far in 2018, and the team needs him to eat some innings with as bad as the pen is right now.

Hopefully Kluber can set the pace for the rest of the team against the defending World Series Champions.

2. Round Two Against Dallas Keuchel

Last Saturday the Tribe got to Astros starter Dallas Keuchel for four runs on six hits in five innings, building a 5-0 lead before holding on for a 5-4 win.

Keuchel hasn't been nearly as dominant as he has been in the past, but is still a good thrower and the Indians have to be careful not to let him get going early.

In the last two games before the game against the Indians last week, Keuchel had thrown 15 innings allowing just one run with 12 K's with wins over the A's and Rangers.

Let's see if the Indians bats can wake up putting up some Mario Coins unlike their effort on Thursday.

1. Brantley's Bat

The Indians most consistent player at the plate in 2018 has been Michael Brantley, and he was the only one on Thursday able to do much, driving in a pair of runs to give the Tribe a 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Brantley is now hitting .335 after the 1-for-4 effort, and he's now sitting with a 13-game hitting streak as he enters play Friday night.

He's also piling up the RBI, as he's now put up 22 runs batted in this month, which is 4th best in all of baseball. Brantley is also right now second in the AL in batting average, having an All-Star season as the best player in the Indians nightly lineup.

Last week in the game against Dallas Keuchel the Indians outfielder was 1-for-4 with a homer.