Kansas City @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2012 ) Kansas City 7, Cleveland 6
About 13 hours after wrapping up a 14-inning marathon in which they each used nine pitchers, the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians will get back together for the rubber match of their three-game series Sunday at Progressive Field. Kansas City is assured of a third-place finish in the American League Central after snapping a six-game skid Saturday. The Royals also wrapped up the season series with the Indians after winning for the 10th time in 17 outings.
The Indians rallied in the ninth to force extra innings Saturday, but they left 20 men on base - including leaving the bases loaded in the 14th. Cleveland was 3-for-21 with runners in scoring position, which has been a recurring problem all season. It has hit .237 as a team in those situations this year. Cleveland is 22-51 since the All-Star break after going 44-41 in the first half.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luke Hochevar (8-15, 5.43 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (5-8, 4.25)
Hochevar has just one win in 10 starts since the end of July. He was charged with his career-high 15th loss last time out at Detroit, allowing six runs (five earned) and 12 hits over 7 1/3 innings. Hochevar is 6-8 with a 5.49 ERA in 14 starts against Cleveland. He has won two of his three outings against the Indians this year.
McAllister is winless in his last seven starts and is 2-7 with a 4.72 ERA in 14 starts since the All-Star break. He put together a quality start in his last outing but didn't get a decison, holding the White Sox to two runs over six innings. McAllister lost his only previous start against the Royals, as he allowed five runs (four earned) in six innings on Aug. 1.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals 1B/DH Billy Butler is riding a 10-game hitting streak. Butler is a career .300 hitter (105-for-350) against the Indians.
2. Cleveland SS Asdrubal Cabrera (back) and OF Michael Brantley (groin) returned from injuries and entered Saturday's game as pinch hitters. Cabrera tied the game with a two-run double in the ninth and Brantley went 2-for-3 and scored a run.
3. Butler drove in his 107th run Saturday, tying George Brett's 1979 total for the 12th-best RBI total in franchise history.