CLEVELAND INDIANS vs. SEATTLE MARINERS

Today: Cleveland (Bartolo Colon, 14-12) at Seattle (Freddy Garcia, 18-6), 1:15 p.m., Channel 11.

Thursday: Cleveland (Chuck Finley, 8-7) at Seattle (Jamie Moyer, 20-6), 1:15 p.m., Fox Family.

Saturday: Seattle (Aaron Sele, 15-5) at Cleveland (C.C. Sabathia, 17-5), 1:15 p.m., Channel 11 or Fox Family.

Sunday: Seattle at Cleveland, 10 a.m., Channel 11 or Fox Family.*

Monday: Cleveland at Seattle, 1:15 p.m., Channel 11.*

*If necessary All times PDT

CLEVELAND AT A GLANCE

Game 1 Lineup

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Po Player HR RBI Avg. CF Kenny Lofton 14 66 .261 SS Omar Vizquel 2 50 .255 CF R. Alomar 20 100 .336 RF Juan Gonzalez 35 140 .325 1B Jim Thome 49 124 .291 DH Ellis Burks 28 74 .280 LF Marty Cordova 20 69 .301 3B Travis Fryman 3 38 .263 C Einar Diaz 4 56 .277

*--*

Pitcher: Bartolo Colon 14-12, 4.09 ERA

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS: Despite the loss of Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez in recent seasons, the middle of the Indian lineup still packs a wallop, as Alomar, Gonzalez, Thome and Burks combined for 132 home runs and 438 RBIs. Alomar and Gonzalez will get plenty of MVP votes, and Thome ranked second in the league in home runs behind Alex Rodriguez. Cleveland features the best double-play combination in baseball, with the steady and often spectacular Vizquel and Alomar, who have combined to win 17 gold gloves.

WEAKNESSES: Colon and Finley are the two veterans in the rotation, but Sabathia, the rookie left-hander, has been the most productive starter. Colon gave up a career-high 26 home runs and 101 earned runs, and Finley was hampered by injuries all season. Vizquel has been in an awful slump, batting .176 in September and October, and Gonzalez tailed off at the end of the season. The Indians have scored only one run in 15 innings against Game 2 starter Moyer. John Rocker has been ineffective out of the bullpen, going 3-7 with a 5.45 ERA after his June 22 trade from Atlanta.

Key reserves: 3B Russell Branyan (.232, 20 HRs, 54 RBIs), C Eddie Taubensee (.250, 3, 11), OF Jolbert Cabrera (.261, 1, 38).

Team batting: .278 (second in AL)

Team pitching: 4.64 ERA (ninth)

KEYS TO THE SERIES

The Indians must have the lead going into the seventh inning, because they will have trouble scoring against the Mariner bullpen. Lofton and Vizquel need to get on base in front of Alomar, Gonzalez and Thome, but they’ve had little success against Game 1 starter Garcia, who has limited the pair to two hits and two walks in 22 at-bats. It’s doubtful Cleveland pitchers will shut down Ichiro Suzuki, but they have to keep him off base as much as possible. The Indians must play mistake-free baseball and maximize scoring opportunities. seems simple, but all the Mariners need to do is continue playing as they have all season, when they tied the major league record for victories and blew away the rest of the American League. Seattle relies on air-tight defense, flawless execution on offense, superb starting pitching and reliable relief.

Records: Indians 91-71, Mariners 116-46.

Head to head: Mariners, 5-2.

SEATTLE AT A GLANCE

Game 1 Lineup

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Po Player HR RBI Avg. RF Ichiro Suzuki 8 69 .350 SS Mark McLemore 5 57 .286 2B Bret Boone 37 141 .331 DH Edgar Martinez 23 116 .306 1B John Olerud 21 95 .302 CF Mike Cameron 25 110 .267 LF Stan Javier 4 33 .292 C Dan Wilson 10 42 .265 3B David Bell 15 64 .260

*--*

Pitcher: Freddy Garcia 18-6, 3.05 ERA

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS: Suzuki is a rare talent, a player who can dominate despite not hitting for power. The Japanese import has tremendous defensive range and one of the best outfield arms in baseball. Offensively, he led the major leagues with 242 hits, led the American League in batting average and had 56 stolen bases. The Mariners put constant pressure on opponents: they have the league’s best on-base percentage and hit .295 with runners in scoring position.. The rotation is top notch, and the bullpen, led by closer Kazuhiro Sasaki (3.24 ERA, 45 saves), right-hander Jeff Nelson (2.76 ERA) and left-hander Arthur Rhodes (8-0, 1.72 ERA), is probably baseball’s best.

WEAKNESSES: The loss of shortstop Carlos Guillen, who was diagnosed with tuberculosis 11 days ago, is significant. Veteran Mark McLemore is a capable sub, but with him in the starting lineup, Manager Lou Piniella loses a valuable switch-hitter on his bench. Wilson, the Mariner catcher, has three hits in 60 playoff at-bats for an average of .050, the lowest of any player in postseason history. No matter who is in left field, Javier, Martin or Buhner, the Mariners are weak defensively at the position.

KEY RESERVES: OF Al Martin (.240, 7 HR, 42 RBI), OF Jay Buhner (.222, 2, 5), INF Ed Sprague (.298, 2, 16)

TEAM BATTING: .267 (first in AL)

TEAM PITCHING: 3.54 ERA (first)