Watch Indians-Angels tonight on YouTube
The Indians’ push toward the postseason will continue tonight against the Angels, in a clash that will air live exclusively on YouTube.
The second game in a three-game series at Angel Stadium is the latest to be live streamed exclusively on YouTube this season. More is still to come, however, with three more regular-season games remaining on the schedule, beginning with a National League East showdown between the Braves and Nationals on Friday from Washington.
• MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube
An MLB Network production, tonight’s game is scheduled to begin at 10:07 ET and can be viewed for free on MLB’s official YouTube page.
Every game at this point is crucial for the Tribe, which sits five games behind the Twins in an American League Central race that is starting to slip away. But Cleveland is much closer in the AL Wild Card chase, sitting a half-game behind Oakland for the second spot, and two games behind Tampa Bay for the top spot.
The Indians did begin their current road trip by taking two of three at Minnesota, before heading to the West Coast. The club bolstered its offense by acquiring Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes before the Trade Deadline, to go with star shortstop Francisco Lindor and Carlos Santana, yet Cleveland later lost a red-hot Jose Ramirez for the season. The Indians also are trying to make do without outfielder Tyler Naquin and starter Corey Kluber, with Carlos Carrasco recently returning from his fight with leukemia to pitch out of the bullpen.
Tuesday’s game will be a battle of rookie pitchers, with the Indians’ Zach Plesac taking on the Angels’ Jose Suarez. The big question for Plesac (3.98 ERA in 18 starts) will be whether he will have to deal with AL MVP Award frontrunner Mike Trout. The Angels’ star center fielder underwent a minor procedure on his right foot on Monday and was out of the starting lineup for a third consecutive game, giving the Cleveland pitching staff a reprieve that could end as soon as Tuesday.
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Even without Trout, the Angels still can challenge Plesac with a lineup that includes Shohei Ohtani, Justin Upton and Albert Pujols, who launched his 655th career home run on Monday night. That put him five behind Willie Mays for fifth on the all-time list, giving him a shot to catch an all-time great before season’s end.