Orioles-Indians Preview

One team will get to finally celebrate Friday night as the Cleveland Indians try to end their 11-game losing streak when they host the Baltimore Orioles, losers of seven straight.

This three-game set begins with teams holding the longest current losing streaks in the majors. Cleveland (61-91) is on its longest slide since a club-record 12-game run in May 1931 while Baltimore (60-92) is on its worst skid since dropping 10 in a row Sept. 17-26, 2008.

The Indians have lost four straight at home after getting swept in three games by AL Central-leading Detroit. Travis Hafner had three hits in Thursday's 6-5 loss after a pregame team meeting called by manager Eric Wedge due to his club's poor play.

"Our guys made a good run at it," Wedge said. "We played better baseball tonight. We're still short, obviously, on the win side."

The Orioles are making the second stop on a 10-game trip after they were swept in three games at Toronto. They had their final day off of the season after Wednesday's 7-3 loss.

Rookier catcher Matt Wieters is one of the few Orioles swinging a hot bat. He is batting .486 (17 for 35) with three homers and 11 RBIs in the last nine games.

"You always want to finish strong," Wieters told the Orioles' official Web site. "We haven't played very well up here, but now you've just got to put it behind you and go on to play better in Cleveland."

Baltimore right fielder Nick Markakis is mired in a 5-for-42 (.119) slump with one RBI over his last 11 games. He has one extra-base hit in his last 71 at-bats despite being among the league leaders with 42 doubles.

The Orioles and Indians have split their last 18 matchups, including a four-game set at Camden Yards Aug. 27-30.

Baltimore will try to avoid losing an eighth straight game started by rookie David Hernandez (4-8, 5.34 ERA), who is 0-4 with an 8.16 ERA in that span. His lone start against the Indians on Aug. 27 resulted in a 5-4 loss in which the right-hander did not get a decision and allowed two runs over six innings.

Hernandez also failed to get a decision Saturday against Boston after giving up three runs over six innings in an 11-5 loss.

Fausto Carmona (3-12, 6.81) will counter for Cleveland. Carmona fell to 0-4 with a 10.32 ERA in his last five starts after giving up a career high-tying nine runs over 5 2/3 innings Sunday in an 11-4 loss at Oakland.

This poor stretch for the right-hander began when he was tagged for six runs over 4 2/3 innings Aug. 28 in a 13-4 loss at Baltimore. Carmona fell to 2/3 with a 7.05 ERA in six career starts against the Orioles.