Cleveland @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2010 ) Kansas City 6, Cleveland 2
If the Kansas City Royals were in the middle of a playoff race, they would have the perfect pitcher on the mound Friday. Unfortunately for them they are 27 ½ games out of first place, but they are still happy to have Kyle Davies on the mound.
Davies (8-9, 4.95) is as good a pitcher in September as anyone in the majors. He has eight straight wins in September, with his last loss in the month coming on Sept. 10, 2008. Over the last three years he sports a 1.38 ERA in baseball’s final full month.
The Royals righty will look to notch his ninth straight September win Friday when Kansas City host the Cleveland Indians.
Davies’ September success has not carried over to the rest of the Royals team. Kansas City (60-85) had lost all eight games this month not started by Davies until taking the last two from the Oakland Athletics earlier this week.
The 27-year-old Davies gave up a single run over six innings in both of his two outings this month, logging wins against Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox.
Kansas City may not have much to play for, but there is one thing on the line as they play the Indians – not finishing in last place.
Cleveland (60-86) is the current cellar-dweller of the American League Central, one-half game behind the Royals. Kansas City has finished the season at the bottom of the division four of the past five seasons –including a tie for futility with Cleveland last year – and a strong showing in the series could ensure they aren’t the doormats again.
In order to stay out of the basement Kansas City will first have to beat Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco (0-0, 2.18) who has yet to notch a win in eight career starts, but has pitched well enough to earn one. Carrasco was called up Sept. 1 and has made three starts, pitching extremely well in each game.
He allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings Sept. 1 against Chicago and was in line for the win before the bullpen blew it in the eighth inning. He yielded two runs in six innings the following start, but received a no-decision and threw 7 1/3 shutout innings his last outing against Minnesota, again earning a no-decision as Cleveland went on the lose 1-0.
If Kansas City is to deprive Carrasco of his first career win yet again, they will have to rely on the usual suspects for offense. Star slugger Billy Butler is hitting .326 over the past month and veteran Wilson Betemit has 20 RBI over that span.
Kansas City currently leads the season series 6-5, with the two teams last playing at the end of August, when Cleveland took two-of-three at home.