While outstanding pitching has helped extend the Philadelphia Phillies' surprising surge, Corey Kluber has the only recent positive effort for the Cleveland Indians.
As the Phillies chase their seventh victory in eight games, Kluber will try to continue his success at NL ballparks Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.
Philadelphia (12-10) made a statement Thursday with a 3-0 win that gave the club a three-game sweep at Washington. After totaling 20 runs in taking two of three at Milwaukee, the Phillies had a 1.00 ERA with 27 strikeouts against the NL East-leading Nationals.
''A lot of people write us off saying we don't want to win," said Cameron Rupp, who had a two-run double in the ninth inning. "That's not true. We come out and play."
Philadelphia hopes Adam Morgan can continue that trend in his season debut. The left-hander is expected to get the call-up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and replace Charlie Morton, who is out for the season after tearing his left hamstring Saturday.
Morgan, who went 5-7 with a 4.48 ERA in 15 starts last season, had a 3.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts and four walks over 17 2/3 innings in his three minor-league starts. Juan Uribe is the only Indian who has faced Morgan, homering off him in three at-bats.
Cleveland's rotation hasn't fared nearly as well, allowing 13 runs and 19 hits in three games since Carlos Carrasco went down for at least four weeks with a hamstring injury. The Indians (10-9) made a move to adjust the starting staff Wednesday by sending scuffling right-hander Cody Anderson to Triple-A Columbus.
Kluber (1-3, 4.67 ERA) will try to help turn things around following his best outing of the season. He recaptured his 2014 AL Cy Young form Saturday, giving up one run and two hits while striking out 10 over eight innings in a 10-1 win at Detroit.
"I think we sometimes have been a little timid and passive and tried to hold back some pitches," catcher Yan Gomes told the league's official website. "Early in the season, you want to just go for it and just kind of throw everything right out of the gate, go get everything feeling good and see which pitch is going to work out that day."
Kluber has allowed four runs and six hits over 15 2/3 innings in two road outings this season. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.06 ERA with 34 strikeouts and three walks in five starts at NL ballparks. In his only meeting with Philadelphia, he gave up three runs over six innings in a 10-4 road victory May 15, 2013.
He'll try to contain Odubel Herrera, who is batting .355 with a .500 on-base percentage during a nine-game hitting streak. Cesar Hernandez also has been on a roll, hitting .409 over his last six.
Cleveland has won four of six on this nine-game road swing after salvaging a 6-5 victory in the last of three against Minnesota on Wednesday. Carlos Santana had three hits to improve to 10 for 26 on the trip and Jose Ramirez is 6 for 13 in his last three.
Lonnie Chisenhall is expected to return after sitting Wednesday due to a stiff neck.
The Indians have dropped four of five all-time meetings at Philadelphia.
