DETROIT — The Cleveland Indians didn’t match up well against the Detroit Tigers last season. That cost the Indians a division title.
A boost at the top of the lineup might help the Indians get off to a better start against their American League Central Division rival.
Leadoff hitter and center fielder Michael Bourn is expected to be activated from disabled list and make his season debut when the Indians play an abbreviated two-game series at Detroit’s Comerica Park Wednesday and Thursday.
Their scheduled game on Tuesday was postponed after three inches of snow fell overnight in the Detroit area and temperatures hovered around the freezing mark. The game will not be made up this week.
Bourn, who suffered a left hamstring injury during spring training, played four rehab games last week. The Indians, who are off to a 6-7 start and have lost four of their last five, have felt his absence. Their leadoff hitters have combined to hit .235 while scoring eight runs.
The entire Cleveland lineup often looked helpless against the Tigers last season. It batted .223 in the season series, which the Tigers won, 15-4. Detroit needed every one of those victories to hold off the Indians’ late surge, winning the division by a game.
Many of Cleveland’s regulars are off to slow starts, including three who are hitting below the .200 mark — shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (.188), catcher/third baseman Carlos Santana (.186) and first baseman Nick Swisher (.185).
With the postponement, the task for the Indians hitters won’t get any easier. They will face Anibal Sanchez, arguably the majors’ best No. 3 starter, in the opener.
Detroit’s fifth starter Drew Smyly, who was supposed to start Wednesday’s game, will likely be skipped again to allow ace Justin Verlander to pitch on his normal four days’ rest. Smyly has yet to make a start this season.
The Tigers, who are coming off a 2-3 West Coast trip against National League opponents Los Angeles and San Diego, have some hitting woes of their own. They are still waiting for two-time Most Valuable Player Miguel Cabrera (.225, 1 HR, 4 RBIs) to heat up.
NOTES: The postponement is likely to be made up during one of Cleveland’s remaining trips to Detroit on July 18-20 or Sept. 12-14. The Indians have already been postponed three times. … RHP Zach McAllister (1-0), who tossed 7 2/3 innings against San Diego to notch his first victory on April 9, will start for the Indians on Wednesday. … The Tigers outscored the Indians 120-70 in their head-to-head meetings last season. … Detroit’s 10 games played are the fewest in the majors.