Cleveland @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2012 ) Cleveland 2, Kansas City 5
The Cleveland Indians are plummeting out of contention in the American League Central - at the expense of the cellar-dwelling Kansas City Royals, no less. The Royals will vie for the sweep and hand the slumping Indians their season-high sixth straight loss and 11th in 14 games when the division rivals conclude their series on Thursday. Cleveland sits seven games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox.
Kansas City's modest winning streak has put it a half-game behind fourth-place Minnesota. While the Royals are likely more concerned with the future than the present, they did receive a plus from Greg Holland in Wednesday's 5-2 win. Named the closer after the team traded Jonathan Broxton to Cincinnati on Tuesday, Holland retired the side in order for his first save this season and fifth career.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FSKC (Kansas City)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (NR) vs. Royals LH Bruce Chen (7-9, 5.49)
After making three less-than-desirable relief appearances in September 2011, Kluber will make his first career start on Thursday. The 26-year-old was recalled from Triple-A Columbus after posting an 11-7 record with a 3.59 ERA in 21 starts.
Chen will attempt to secure his first win since June 26 when he takes the mound on Thursday. The veteran left-hander improved to 6-3 in his career versus Cleveland after tossing five strong innings in a 6-3 win on May 30. Chen pitched well in his last outing, but took the loss after yielding three runs in six innings en route to a 4-3 setback to Seattle on Saturday.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians veteran right-hander Derek Lowe was designated for assignment after he was blitzed in the series opener. The 39-year-old lost his fourth straight and ninth in 11 decisions after permitting seven runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.
2. Jarrod Dyson followed his three-hit performance in the series opener with two more on Wednesday. The Royals' No. 9 hitters are 26-for-66 with six doubles and three triples. They have scored 16 times in the past 19 games.
3. Cleveland has scored just 11 runs in the first five contests of its 10-day road trip.