Royals at Indians
The Cleveland Indians know they can't count on Michael Brantley too heavily right away after missing 223 of a possible 324 games over the last two years, but Friday's season debut was another reminder of what his presence means to their struggling lineup. The Indians eye consecutive wins for the first time this season Saturday when they host the Kansas City Royals for the second of a three-game set.
Brantley, who was limited to 11 games in 2016 and 90 in 2017 due to injury, missed the first six games of this season while finishing his recovery from offseason ankle surgery before he was activated from the disabled list early Friday. Cleveland, which is batting a league-low .157, put the two-time All-Star to work right away in its home opener and immediately reaped the benefits, as his go-ahead, two-run single in his first at-bat proved to be the last bit of offense either team would see in the Indians' 3-2 victory. The Royals have played a league-low five games due to postponements in each of their first two series, which hasn't helped their cause at the plate - .203 team batting average, a league-worst one home run and a league-low 14 runs scored. Kansas City has dropped eight of its last nine in Cleveland and is 3-16 over its last 19 games at Progressive Field.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ian Kennedy (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Indians RH Trevor Bauer (0-0, 3.60)
Kennedy was in line for a win last Saturday after yielding one run across six frames, but he did not factor into the decision after his bullpen let him down against the Chicago White Sox. The 33-year-old was also sharp in the spring, when he posted a 2.50 ERA in five turns. Kennedy is winless in his last five starts versus the Indians and was pounded for nine runs over 7 2/3 innings in two starts last season, leaving him with a 2-5 record and 5.90 ERA in 10 starts against them.
Bauer struck out seven in five frames but needed 101 pitches to get there Sunday, running into trouble in his final inning versus the Seattle Mariners after giving up a pair of RBI doubles en route to a no-decision. The UCLA product did most of his best work during his breakout 2017 campaign at home, going 10-4 with a 3.93 while striking out 116 across 103 frames. Alcides Escobar is 8-for-25 with a homer against Bauer, who went 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts versus Kansas City last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Indians are 29-8 over their last 37 home games dating back to the 2017 All-Star break, including an 18-3 mark over their last 21 contests.
2. Dating back to its final exhibition game on March 25, Kansas City has played five games in 12 days.
3. Despite not hitting a homer Friday, 15 of Cleveland's 24 runs this season have come via a home run.