Royals at Indians
The Cleveland Indians struggled to uncork their offense during the final two contests of a season-opening six-game road trip. After totaling four runs and eight hits in back-to-back losses, the Indians hope their bats are active Friday as they begin a 10-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals.
"We can definitely improve. It's just a matter of us continuing to work, continuing to take good at-bats the right way, continuing to do your pregame stuff the right way," said Francisco Lindor, who batted .307 with five homers, 13 RBIs and 10 runs scored versus Kansas City last season. Cleveland, which boasted an impressive 49-32 mark at Progressive Field in 2017, has limped out of the box with losses in four of six overall to start the season and failed to record a hit during all four extra innings of Wednesday's 3-2 setback to the Los Angeles Angels. Kansas City's early season offense isn't drawing rave reviews either as the club has mustered two runs in two games that were sandwiched around a pair of weather-related postponements. Mike Moustakas joins Cheslor Cuthbert and Jon Jay with a team-leading four hits, although he has batted .130 in 23 career at-bats versus Friday starter Carlos Carrasco.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Kansas City, STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (0-1, 11.25 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 7.94)
Fears of a drop in Duffy's velocity were realized on Opening Day as his fastball averaged 91.2 mph - and the results weren't pretty, as he was taken deep three times during a five-run fourth inning in a 14-7 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The 29-year-old, who yielded 13 homers in 146 1/3 innings last season, was left to lament that performance as his scheduled start against Detroit on Wednesday was postponed because of inclement weather. Duffy posted an 0-3 mark with a 4.60 ERA in three meetings with Cleveland last season to drop to 2-6 lifetime against the club, although offseason acquisition Edwin Encarnacion is batting only .154 in 13 at-bats him.
Carrasco also struggled with the home-run ball as he was taken deep twice and permitted five runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-5 triumph over Seattle. The 31-year-old Venezuelan only served up one homer in three appearances versus Kansas City last season, posting a 2-1 record to improve his career mark against the club to 9-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 22 games. Whit Merrifield is 6-for-12 versus Carrasco, but Alex Gordon (.152 in 33 at-bats) has struggled mightily against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland plans to activate two-time All-Star OF Michael Brantley (ankle) from the 10-day disabled list prior to Friday's game, manager Terry Francona said.
2. Kansas City RF Jorge Soler is hitless in 29 consecutive at-bats dating back to last season.
3. Indians RF Lonnie Chisenhall started the season with a four-game hitting streak and leads the team with a .235 batting average.