Pigs dot sky as Kluber gets run support Indians Indians' bats finally produce -- and then some -- for ace from B1

Indians right-hander Corey Kluber, who threw a five-hit shutout in his last start, faces Houston on Monday night in Minute Maid Park.

(Carlos Osorio, Associated Press)

CLEVELAND - Preview and pitching matchups for the Indians-Astros series in Houston.

Where: Minute Maid Park, Monday through Wednesday.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM/1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the series.

Pitching probables: RHP Corey Kluber (2-3, 3.35) vs. RHP Mike Fiers (2-1, 5.35) Monday at 8:10 p.m. ET; RHP Trevor Bauer (2-0, 5.14) vs. RHP Chris Devenski (0-1, 1.46) Tuesday at 8:10 p.m. ET and RHP Danny Salazar (3-2, 1.91) vs. RHP Doug Fister (2-3, 4.60) Wednesday at 2:10 p.m. ET.

Series: The Indians went 5-2 against the Astros last year. The Indians lead, 24-15, overall.

Monday: Kluber is coming off a five-hit shutout over Detroit in which he struck out 10. He's 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA against Houston. The Astros are hitting .200 against him as a team.

Fiers, who has never faced the Indians, is coming off a no-decision start against the Twins in which he allowed four earned runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. Rajai Davis is 1-for-2 against him.

Tuesday: Bauer, making his third start of the season, beat Detroit in his last start. He went 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA against the Astros last season. He's 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 20 innings in his career against Houston.

Devenski, who has never faced the Indians, allowed one run with six strikeouts in six innings against Seattle in his last start.

Wednesday: In his last start Salazar threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a win over the Royals. He has a 1.35 ERA in two starts against Houston. Jake Marisnick is 3-for-5 against him.

Fister has won his last two starts, beating Seattle and Oakland. He is 5-3 with a 2.73, ERA in his career against the Indians. Michael Brantley is hitting .367 (11-for-30) with two homers and five RBI against Fister.

Team updates: The Indians are coming off a 5-1 homestand against Detroit and Kansas City in which they hit .352 (19-for-54) with runners in scoring position. The Astros are trying to recover from a 7-17 April. They have won six of their last 11 games.

Players to watch: Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor is hitting .435 (10-for-23) with one homer, three RBI and six runs in May. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve, briefly sidelined from a sore left index finger, is hitting .360 (9-for-25) with three homers, six RBI and a 1.269 OPS in May.

Injuries: Indians - RHP Carlos Carrasco (left hamstring) and C Roberto Perez (right thumb) are on the disabled list. Astros - RHP Lance McCullers (right shoulder) is on the disabled list.

Next: The Twins visit Progressive Field to start a three-game series against the Tribe on Friday night.