Kansas City @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2012 ) Kansas City 5, Cleveland 8
The Kansas City Royals seemingly have been on the brink of success for several years with a crop of talented, young players coming up through their farm system, and they will display another key piece of the puzzle when right-hander Jake Odorizzi makes his second big-league start in the middle contest of a three-game road series against the Cleveland Indians. Odorizzi will try to pick up his first major-league win and help the Royals snap a six-game losing streak.
The Indians won the series opener in their first game under interim manager Sandy Alomar Jr., who took over when Manny Acta was fired Thursday. Cleveland has won three straight for the first time since July 3-5 - before the All-Star break. The Indians have scored 23 runs in their past two meetings with the Royals, marking the only two games they've scored eight or more runs since Aug. 5.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 5.06 ERA) vs. Indians RH Jeanmar Gomez (5-8, 5.54)
Odorizzi was solid in his debut - also against Cleveland - tossing five scoreless innings before he allowed three runs in the sixth. The 22-year-old struck out three in his first start. He ran out of gas in the sixth and allowed four straight hits - including Carlos Santana's two-run homer - before exiting with one out in the inning.
Gomez was sent to the bullpen and pitched one scoreless inning in his only relief stint before Ubaldo Jimenez's season-ending ankle injury opened up a spot in the rotation. Gomez is 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA in eight games (seven starts) against the Royals. He is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three games (two starts) against them this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals 1B/DH Billy Butler, who is riding a nine-game hitting streak, is 4-for-13 (.308) with a double against Gomez.
2. Santana is a career .308 hitter against Kansas City with 11 doubles, six homers and 24 RBIs against the Royals.
3. Cleveland 2B Jason Kipnis, who drove in three runs Friday, is riding a 10-game hitting streak.