Indians-Angels Preview

The Cleveland Indians may not have expected Austin Kearns to play an integral role on their team, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming their leading hitter.

Kearns looks to continue his torrid start to the season and help the Indians conclude a nine-game road trip with consecutive wins over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

The Indians (9-11) signed Kearns, who had missed the final two months of last season with Washington after thumb surgery, to a minor-league contract in January. He then won an opening-day roster spot after hitting .400 with two homers and nine RBIs in 21 games during spring training. The outfielder - an eight-year veteran with a .258 career average - has carried his success through April.

Kearns leads the Indians with a .386 batting average and has two homers with 10 RBIs - second to team-leader Shin-Soo Choo's 15 RBIs.

"This was the first time in the last five or six years where he had to come to spring training having to make a ballclub," said manager Manny Acta, who also managed Kearns with the Nationals. "I just told him, 'Hey, this is uncharted territory for you, but you have to battle because nothing's going to be given to you. I know what you can do, so just get out there and play.' He handled it very well, won a spot, and here he is."

He nearly single-handedly powered the Indians' 9-2 win at Los Angeles (11-11) on Tuesday, driving in five runs on three hits - two doubles and a homer. Kearns' homers have come in the last two games, and he's had three hits in three of the last four contests.

Largely due to his surge, Cleveland has a chance to salvage a fourth win as it wraps up its nine-game trip.

Choo is also enjoying a strong stretch, going 9 for 21 in the last five games to raise his average 41 points to .329. The right fielder has thrived against the Angels, hitting .474 with 10 RBIs in 15 career games.

Jake Westbrook (0-2, 5.82 ERA) will make his first start at Angel Stadium since throwing a seven-hitter in a 4-3 win April 8, 2008. That victory also still stands as the right-hander's last in the majors. Elbow surgery sidelined him for most of 2008 and all of 2009, and he's 0-3 with a 4.73 ERA in seven starts since beating the Angels.

Still trying to rediscover his old form, Westbrook turned in another shaky outing in Friday's 10-0 loss at Oakland. He battled through five innings, giving up four runs and eight hits while throwing 101 pitches.

"I have to do a better job of focusing and keeping the ball down," Westbrook told the team's official website. "I haven't been able to finish off my outings. Hopefully that will come as my arm gets stronger throughout the season. Right now, it's just frustrating for me."

The Angels will give the ball to Ervin Santana (1-2, 4.73), who is 0-6 with a 6.03 ERA in seven career starts against the Indians but hasn't faced them since a loss at home July 21, 2008.

The right-hander has struggled in his last 16 starts at Angel Stadium, going 2-8 with a 6.26 ERA. He's 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts there this year.

Santana didn't get a decision and struggled through a 6-4 home win over the New York Yankees on Friday, allowing four runs and eight hits while hitting two batters in six innings.

The Angels, who are 3-4 since a five-game winning streak, begin a 10-game road trip Friday that will take them to Detroit, Boston and Seattle.