Cleveland GuardiansCleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays Pick Center

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Indians eye rebound after loss to wild-card rival RaysFLMThe Cleveland Indians erupted for 32 runs en route to winning five of their previous six contests before failing to ignite their offense in the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.The Indians aim to rebound after being shut out for the 12th time this season when they continue their three-game set versus the Rays on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla.Cleveland, which holds a half-game lead over Oakland for the top wild-card spot, mustered just five hits in the opener to fall to 1-4 against Tampa Bay this season. The Rays sit one game behind the Athletics for the second wild-card slot."The wild card is not our goal," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "The only thing I know is that the game you play that night, you try to win. That's the only thing you can control." Unfortunately for Cleveland, injuries don't fall into that category.The Indians likely will be without Tyler Naquin after the outfielder sprained his right knee while running into the left-field wall in the fifth inning."He's getting an MRI now," Francona said following the 4-0 loss. "I think it's premature to play doctor. Obviously, it didn't look good and we're very concerned. But we'll wait to get the result." Tampa Bay, meanwhile, finally found its offense in the seventh inning as Avisail Garcia had an RBI single and Jesus Aguilar belted a three-run homer.The homer had extra significance for the 29-year-old Aguilar, who recorded 140 homers in the minors for the Indians."It was a great feeling," Aguilar said. "The most important thing is we won. I think this is the most important series of the year. We've got to show what we've got." Aguilar and Tampa Bay will attempt to do precisely that against Cleveland rookie right-hander Zach Plesac (7-4, 3.40 ERA), who will receive his first look at the Rays.Plesac snapped a three-start winless stretch on Aug. 23 by allowing one run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-1 victory versus Kansas City.The 24-year-old has struggled to replicate the success he has at home when he's on the road, posting a 2-3 mark with a 3.86 ERA away from Progressive Field as opposed to a 5-1 record with a 3.06 ERA in Cleveland.Tampa Bay is expected to send right-hander Diego Castillo (2-8, 3.76) to the mound as Saturday's opener before left-hander Jalen Beeks (5-3, 4.55 ERA) will be summoned for the bulk of the work.Castillo sustained his second straight loss on Wednesday after allowing three runs on as many hits in one inning of a blown save in an 8-6 setback at Houston.The 25-year-old, however, owns a 2.25 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) versus the Indians after tossing one scoreless inning of relief in Cleveland on May 25.Beeks was blitzed for seven runs on 11 hits in five innings of a no-decision at Baltimore on Sunday.The 26-year-old, who owns a 1-0 mark with a 1.29 ERA in two career appearances versus the Indians, scattered two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a 6-3 win at Cleveland on May 26.--Field Level Media

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