Kansas City @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2011 ) Kansas City 1, Cleveland 2

THE STORY: Jim Thome was a hit in the stands, but a bust at the plate as the 40-year-old slugger fizzled in his return to the Cleveland Indians. It turned out that the Indians didn't need him, and they'll look to build on the momentum of Friday's series-opening win as they resume their weekend series with the visiting Kansas City Royals. Indians starter Fausto Carmona will try to extend his string of solid outings as he faces off against Royals lefthander Danny Duffy. Cleveland is 6 1/2 games behind Detroit in the American League Central.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (3-8, 5.48 ERA) vs. Indians RH Fausto Carmona (6-12, 4.76).

Duffy has shown flashes of potential in his rookie season, but he hasn't been able to stick around as much as he would like. The 22-year-old has lasted past the fifth inning only twice in his last six starts, going 1-4 in that span. Duffy faced the Indians at the end of July, earning the victory after surrendering two runs on eight hits over five solid innings. Carmona has been solid of late in what has been an otherwise disappointing season. The 27-year-old has allowed only 13 earned runs over his last seven starts, giving him a 2.49 ERA since the All-Star break after posting an ugly 5.78 mark in the first half. Carmona has made 15 career starts against the Royals, going 6-5 with a 4.64 ERA overall.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (54-78): For as badly as Kansas City pitchers have performed this season - and most of the last decade for that matter - the bats have given fans a possible glimpse into a more positive future. The Royals are showing that last season's .274 team batting average, good for second in the majors, was no fluke. They're hitting .268 so far in 2011, a decent total considering the league-wide average is well down from 2010. It's also good enough for sixth in the league, trailing only Boston, Texas, St. Louis, the New York Yankees and Detroit. If Kansas City can improve upon its dismal 4.52 ERA, the club could make some noise in 2012 and beyond.

ABOUT THE INDIANS (64-64): Cleveland knows it is running out of time to catch the Tigers for the top spot in the American League Central, which is why the club was so pleased to see trade deadline acquisition Ubaldo Jimenez return to form Friday. The Indians are hoping the same will be true for Carmona, a one-time 19-game winner who has gone 24-38 over the past three seasons. With staff ace Josh Tomlin hitting the 15-day disabled list with elbow soreness, the onus will be on the remaining healthy starters to pick up the slack. The Royals' roster is batting .310 against Carmona. Billy Butler is 10-for-32 with eight RBIs against him.

FINAL PITCH: Thome has hit 48 of his 601 career home runs against the Royals - only Detroit (66) and Minnesota (57) have yielded more.