CLEVELAND -- The Washington Nationals and the Cleveland Indians, two first-place teams heading in opposite directions on the map but not in the standings, play each other Tuesday night at Progressive Field in the opener of a two-game series.Thanks to the All-Star break and Cleveland hosting the Republican National Convention, the Indians havent played a home game since July 10. The Indians have played 19 of their last 26 games on the road, but 20 of their next 25 games will be at Progressive Field.The Nationals, who have played 19 of their last 23 games at home, are set to begin a 10-game road trip that will take them to Cleveland, San Francisco and Arizona.The Indians hold a 5 1/2-game lead over the second-place Detroit Tigers in the American League Central, while Washington leads the National League East by five games over both the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins.Tuesday nights pitching matchup features Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez and Indians right-hander Danny Salazar.In 19 starts this year, Gonzalez is 6-8 with a 4.53 ERA, but he was much better than that in his past four starts, going 3-1 with a 3.80 ERA.Gonzalez will be making his second career start vs. Cleveland. The first came in a 2-1 Nationals loss on June 14, 2013, when Gonzalez pitched seven innings, giving up one run on three hits with four walks and eight strikeouts.Salazar, a first-time American League All-Star this year, is 11-3 and ranks third in the AL with a 2.75 ERA. This will be his first career appearance against Washington. Salazar hasnt lost a game since May 22, going 7-0 with a 3.16 ERA in his past nine starts.Starting pitching hasnt been a problem for the Indians, whose rotation leads the league with a 3.63 ERA. The bullpen is another matter. Cleveland relievers rank seventh in the league in ERA at 3.65.The Indians bullpen inconsistency is reflected by the teams seven walk-off losses this season, the second most in the majors. It also is the reason Cleveland is rumored to be engaged in trade talks with other teams for back-of-the-bullpen help. Closer Cody Allen gave up a game-ending home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.With less than a week to go until the trade deadline, it would not be a surprise to see the Indians make a deal for a reliever this week, although manager Terry Francona says that doesnt mean the organization is disappointed in the in-house options.Sometimes everybody clamors for bringing guys in from the outside, but you might have the guy you need right in the organization, and its somebody you really like, Francona said.The Nationals on Tuesday will welcome back first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who is expected to be activated off the disabled list. Zimmerman has been sidelined since July 7 with a left rib cage strain. In a three-game rehab stint with Class A Potomac, he hit .417 (5-for-12) with a home run and five RBI.I feel good. It was good to go down there and get some at bats, Zimmerman told MLB.com. Ill be ready to come back, help this team in the second half and get going.The Indians are just 4-5 since the All-Star break, all of those games coming on a road trip to face the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals and Baltimore. The Nationals are likewise 4-5 since the break, but all those games came at home, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Custom Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Patric Hornqvist Jersey .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/621q-andy-bathgate-jersey-penguins.html . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Chris Kunitz Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Ron Schock Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. ST. LOUIS -- Patrik Laine has been a one-man show for the Winnipeg Jets of late, and he capped his performance Saturday night with fitting flash.Laine set up Bryan Little for an overtime goal and also got his 16th score of the season, helping the Jets beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2.It feels good, said Laine, who has four goals and an assist over the last three games. And now we finally get the win as a team, so Im really happy.Laine pushed a backhand pass across the slot to Little 17 seconds into OT, helping Winnipeg end a six-game road losing streak.It gets a little bit of confidence in the room when you hit the road that you can play that game and get a good result, Jets right wing Blake Wheeler said.Laine tied Pittsburghs Sidney Crosby for the NHL goals lead with a score assisted by Little midway through the second period.Michael Hutchinson stopped 20 of 22 shots to get his first win since Oct. 28, snapping a string of four straight losses. Chris Thorburn also scored for Winnipeg.Alexander Steen and Dmitrij Jaskin scored for St. Louis. The Blues fell to 11-1-3 at home, ending their six-game home winning streak. The Blues have a point in their last 12 home games.The game just really wasnt consistent, Jaskin said. We had three or four power plays in the first period and its hard to get into the game and everything was kind of bouncing and it really wasnt going well.St. Louis failed to convert on all four of its power-play attempts, snapping a streak of four straight games scoring at least one power-play goal.Carter Hutton stopped 20 of 23 shots and has lost his last four games.Little won it withh his second goal of the season, blowing past Steen before one-touching Laines pass to complete a 2-on-1 rush.ddddddddddddI dont know where the two Blues guys were, Laine said. I saw Little going back door and I just wanted to pass it to him and it was an awesome finish.I didnt think we were going to get beat back door because it looked like a 1-on-1 to me, Hutton said. So Im playing the players and its not really my guy. Obviously, its frustrating.Thorburn opened the scoring with a short-handed goal. St. Louis Vladimir Tarasenko fanned on a shot attempt, leaving the puck for Blake Wheeler to lead a 2-on-1 break down the ice.Steen got St. Louis on the board 5:16 into the second period with his third goal of the season and first since Oct. 22. The goal was the 200th of Steens career.Jaskin scored his first goal of the season 2:10 later, elevating a shot just over Hutchinsons right pad.Laine buried a feed from Little to tie it 9:18 into the second period.Game notes Steen also got his 150th goal with St. Louis. ... C Kyle Brodziak played his 100th game with the Blues. ... St. Louis D Robert Bortuzzo left with a lower-body injury early in the second period and did not return. ... Winnipeg C Mark Scheifele was scratched with a lower-body injury. ... Winnipeg snapped a streak of four straight games allowing at least one power-play goal to St. LouisUP NEXTSt. Louis: Hosts Montreal on Tuesday night to conclude a five-game homestand.Winnipeg: Plays at Chicago on Sunday night. ' ' '