Cleveland @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2010 ) Cleveland 11, Kansas City 4
Justin Masterson is looking for consistency. Sean O’Sullivan is looking for any kind of success.
The two pitchers hook up on Saturday when the Cleveland Indians and the Kansas Royals continue their three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.
Cleveland won the opener as Shin-Soo Choo drilled three homers and drove in seven runs and Carlos Carrasco picked up his first career victory in the 11-4 triumph.
Masterson (6-12, 4.73 ERA) has been up-and-down all season, but is coming off the longest relief stint by an Indians pitcher since 2004 and the longest in the majors since 2008.
On Sunday, Masterson entered against the Minnesota Twins when starter Mitch Talbot left with a shoulder injury before retiring a hitter. Minnesota won 6-2, but Masterson pitched well in the no-decision. He tossed seven innings, allowing three runs – just one earned – and five hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
Masterson was horrible in his first nine starts, going 0-5 with a 6.13 ERA and stretching his streak of consecutive winless starts to 17 dating to 2009 – the longest such streak in franchise history. His 11-game losing streak during that stretch is tied for the third longest in club lore.
Masterson then went 3-2 with a 3.59 ERA in his next seven starts, but the problems returned as he lost three games in his next four starts pitching to a 7.20 ERA.
The former second-round pick of the Boston Red Sox and the first Jamaican-born pitcher has pitched well in his last eight outings though, posting a 2.72 ERA and .233 average against while going 3-2.
Masterson was not involved in the decision in his lone start against Kansas City on May 19 this season. He is 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA in three career outings against the club.
Trying to establish himself as a mound candidate for 2011, O’Sullivan (2-5, 6.28 ERA) takes the ball for the Royals.
The right-hander was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in the Alberto Callaspo deal on July 22 and has gone 1-5 with a 7.40 ERA for Kansas City in 10 games – nine starts.
O’Sullivan has struggled in his last three appearances, getting tagged for 17 runs and 24 hits over just 12 2/3 frames.
In his last start on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox, the 23-year-old was staked to a 6-0 first-inning lead but lasted just three innings and surrendered six runs on eight hits – including two homers by Paul Konerko - in an eventual 12-6 White Sox win. O’Sullivan was not involved in the decision.
O’Sullivan was the Angels' Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2007, going 10-7 with a 2.22 ERA at low Class-A Cedar Rapids and debuted with the big club last season. In 12 games, including 10 starts with Anaheim, the 2005 third-round draft pick was 4-2 with a 5.92 ERA.