Cleveland @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2012 ) Cleveland 3, Kansas City 8
The Cleveland Indians are starting to dig themselves a considerable hole. After losing for the fourth straight time to fall three games under .500, the Indians will look to improve their standing when they visit Kauffman Stadium to take on the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Cleveland sits six games behind American League Central-leading Chicago after dropping three games under .500 for the first time since boasting a 1-4 mark on April 11.
The Royals snapped a five-game losing skid thanks to an unlikely hitting display from Jarrod Dyson, who fell a home run shy of the cycle in Tuesday's 8-3 victory. Dyson went 3-for-4 with a run scored as Kansas City continues to receive production from the bottom of the order. The Royals' No. 9 hitters are 24-for-63 with five doubles, three triples and 15 runs scored in the past 18 games.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FSKC (Kansas City)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Zach McAllister (4-2, 3.18 ERA) vs. Royals RH Luis Mendoza (4-7, 4.47 ERA)
McAllister bounced back from his first loss in over two months after tossing 6 1/3 solid innings in a no-decision versus Detroit on Thursday. The 24-year-old has benefited from outstanding control to work late into games. McAllister averages just over 1 1/2 walks and nearly six strikeouts per start. He has yet to face the Royals in his career.
Mendoza dropped his third decision in four outings after allowing four runs in five innings in a 4-1 loss to Seattle on Thursday. The 28-year-old Mexican has split a pair of decisions versus Cleveland, but lasted just 3 2/3 innings against the club on May 28. He did not record a decision in that outing, which resulted in an 8-5 victory by the Indians.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kansas City shipped closer Jonathan Broxton to Cincinnati prior to the trade deadline for a minor league pitchers Donnie Joseph and J.C. Sulbaran. Greg Holland, who has four career saves, was named as the team's new closer.
2. Cleveland did not ship Shin-Soo Choo at the trade deadline as many expected. Instead, the Indians acquired minor league first baseman Lars Anderson from Boston.
3. After missing Sunday's contest with a sprained knee, Royals 3B Mike Moustakas returned to the lineup.