Kansas City @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2010 ) Kansas City 4, Cleveland 2

Cleveland Indians rookie Josh Tomlin had his three-game winning streak halted last weekend by Luke Hochevar and the Kansas City Royals. Revenge surely must be on his mind.

Tomlin looks to get even tonight when the Indians host the Royals in the second game of their four-game series at Progressive Field.

Entering with a 3-0 record in his previous four starts, Tomlin struggled against Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday, allowing a season-high six runs and six hits in five innings en route to his first loss since August 21. Hochevar gave up three runs and eight hits over six frames in the 6-4 victory to stop his personal three-game slide.

The setback was the first of five in a row for Cleveland, which dropped a 4-2 decision to the Royals in the series opener on Thursday. Mike Aviles and Kila Ka'aihue belted solo home runs and Sean O'Sullivan recorded his first win as a starter for Kansas City, which moved 1 1/2 games in front of the Indians for fourth place in the American League Central and improved to 8-24 in its last 32 road contests.

Tomlin is 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA in two starts against the Royals. On August 27, the 25-year old yielded three runs and eight hits in five innings of Cleveland's 15-4 triumph.

In four outings at home this year, Tomlin is 3-1 with a 3.42 ERA. He has worked at least five innings in all 10 of his major league starts, making him the first Indian to accomplish the feat since Steve Dunning began his career with 12 straight outings of five or more frames in 1970.

Hochevar looks to even his career mark vs. the Indians and remain perfect in three starts against them this season. In their first meeting on May 20, the 27-year old tossed his third career complete game, allowing three runs and four hits in a 9-3 victory.

The right-hander, who will be making his fourth appearance and third start since June 16 due to a sprained elbow, is 3-4 lifetime with a 4.91 ERA in seven outings against Cleveland. He has had plenty of trouble with Shin-Soo Choo, who is 8-for-14 (.571) with three home runs and six RBIs.

Hochevar has gone 4-1 with a 6.81 ERA in eight games - one relief appearance - on the road this year.

Cleveland needs one victory to avoid its first 100-loss season since it went 57-105 in 1991, but has dropped 21 of its last 31 games at Progressive Field.

The Royals have won eight of the 15 meetings between the teams thus far in 2010.