Royals at Indians
The Cleveland Indians look to rebound from a major collapse and even the series with the visiting Kansas City Royals when the American League Central rivals meet for the middle contest of a three-game set Saturday afternoon. The first-place Indians coughed up a five-run lead and suffered a 10-9 setback in the series opener Friday night for their fifth loss in six contests, dropping under .500 at 18-19.
Francisco Lindor extended his hitting streak to 12 games (23-for-55, six homers) and scored on Michael Brantley’s grand slam in the fourth inning that gave Cleveland a 9-4 lead Friday, but the struggling Indians bullpen could not hold it. Mike Clevinger hopes to continue his success against the Royals when he takes the mound against fellow right-hander Jakob Junis, who is off to a strong start in 2018. Salvador Perez belted a two-run homer to give Kansas City the lead in the seventh inning Friday and extended his hitting streak to five games, recording three blasts and nine RBIs in that stretch. The Royals finished with 15 hits in the series opener and Alcides Escobar knocked in four runs after going eight games without one.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jakob Junis (4-2, 3.18 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mike Clevinger (2-0, 2.76)
Junis boasts five quality starts over seven outings in 2018, including two straight after his worst performance of the season April 26 against the Chicago White Sox. The 25-year-old Illinois native gave up four runs combined over 13 innings in his last two trips to the mound after surrendering five homers in a 6-3 loss to the White Sox. Jose Ramirez is 2-for-2 with a walk versus Junis, who is 0-0 with a 5.63 ERA in two games (one start) against the Indians.
Clevinger allowed two runs on one hit over 7 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts against the New York Yankees on Sunday to post his third straight no-decision. The 27-year-old Florida native owns four quality starts in his last six outings, including 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a no-decision against Kansas City on April 8. Mike Moustakas is 3-for-10 with a home run versus Clevinger, who is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against the Royals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland LHP Andrew Miller gave up Perez's go-ahead homer after returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out more than two weeks.
2. Kansas City OF/DH Jorge Soler is 9-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak and boasts 11 RBIs in his last 10 contests.
3. Ramirez owns four homers in his last seven contests and Cleveland CF Tyler Naquin is 9-for-21 during a seven-game hitting streak.