Royals at Indians
The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians have already seen plenty of each other this season and will square off again Friday in the opener of a three-game series in the Buckeye State. The American League Central rivals have split their first 10 meetings but two of the series were played in Kansas City, including earlier this month when the Royals took two of three. Offense was the theme of the last series, with the squads combining for 39 runs in the three contests.
The Indians are within 2 1/2 games of division-leading Detroit after taking two of three from Toronto. Asdrubal Cabrera homered Thursday and had a pair of hits Wednesday following an 0-for-20 slide. Kansas City was within one game of .500 after taking the first two contests at the New York Yankees, but they were outscored 16-5 in the final two games to fall 3 1/2 games behind Cleveland for second place in the AL Central.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City, STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Bruce Chen (3-0, 2.41 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (6-5, 4.23)
Chen will make his first start of the season after 19 appearances, taking the rotation slot of an ineffective Luis Mendoza. The 36-year-old Panamanian came on in relief of Mendoza in his last outing and allowed two runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings against Oakland on Sunday. Chen has made 17 career appearances (10 starts) against the Indians and posted a 6-3 record with a 4.73 ERA.
Although he did not factor in the decision, Kluber snapped out of a funk in his last turn, limiting Detroit to two runs and matching a season high with 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Kluber had been knocked around for 11 runs in his previous two starts, including four in 5 1/3 innings vs. the Royals on July 2. He won at Kansas City on April 28, giving up two runs in seven innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals 1B Eric Hosmer has hit safely in 12 of 13 games, including eight multiple-hit contests. Indians 1B Mark Reynolds is 2-for-28 with 14 strikeouts in July.
2. Michael Brantley is 9-for-14 against Chen, who hasn't allowed a run in eight appearances on the road.
3. Royals LF Alex Gordon is 3-for-9 with two homers off Kluber.