Kansas City @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2013 ) Kansas City 3, Cleveland 4
The Cleveland Indians have been among the best home teams in the majors for most of the season, and few opponents know that better than the Kansas City Royals. The Indians, who continue their three-game set against the visiting Royals on Tuesday, have taken six in a row in at home from their American League Central rivals. Cleveland's 4-3 victory in the series opener improved its home record to an AL-best 43-22 since April 30 and moved it within 1 1/2 games of Tampa Bay for the second wild-card spot, while Kansas City trails the Rays by four contests.
Cleveland entered September trailing division-leading Detroit by 7 1/2 games but has reduced its deficit to 4 1/2 by going 6-2 this month. Despite Monday’s loss, Kansas City is 6-3 this month and an AL-best 32-20 since the All-Star break. Offense has been a major problem for the Royals in Cleveland, however, as they have scored three runs or fewer in five of their road losses to the Indians, contributing to their 19-57 record in such games this season.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN (Kansas City), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (13-10, 4.19 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (7-8, 3.97)
Guthrie gave up five runs over his first four frames but ended with two scoreless innings in a no-decision against Seattle on Thursday. The 34-year-old went six innings for the 26th time this season, although only 14 of his 29 outings have been quality starts. Guthrie was tagged for five runs over seven frames the last time he faced the Indians and is 3-3 with a 5.83 ERA in nine career games - seven starts - against them.
Despite only allowing two homers over nine starts since the beginning of June, McAllister served up a pair in the same game for only the second time this season in a no-decision against Baltimore on Wednesday. The former New York Yankees farmhand surrendered four runs over 4 2/3 innings and has given up nine runs in his last two outings. McAllister, who is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in two career outings against the Royals, is making his first start against them in 2013.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland closer Chris Perez has allowed three baserunners in four of his five appearances this month.
2. Royals LF Alex Gordon’s two-run homer in the series opener was the 100th of his career.
3. Indians rookie INF Jose Ramirez drew his first career start Monday and collected his first two major-league hits.
PREDICTION: Indians 4, Royals 3