Kansas City @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2018 ) Kansas City 5, Cleveland 1

The Cleveland Indians won 19 of 28 games in August to make a playoff spot inevitable, but they will be looking for their first win in their fourth try this month when they host the red-hot Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. The Indians managed just a Francisco Lindor ninth-inning homer Monday afternoon as the Royals extended their winning streak to a season-high six games with a 5-1 triumph.

Cleveland leads the American League Central by 14 games despite losing the final two of the series with Tampa Bay at home over the weekend and recording just four hits Monday against Kansas City, which sits last in the division. Rejuvenated right-hander Mike Clevinger will try to snap the losing streak for the Indians when he takes the mound Tuesday against lefty Danny Duffy, who has pitched better of late but is 0-3 with a 10.80 ERA in three starts against Cleveland this year. The Royals have won eight of their last nine, averaging 6.7 runs during that stretch, but are still last in the AL and 29th in the majors in scoring. Rookie first baseman Ryan O’Hearn went deep twice for Kansas City on Monday and boasts nine homers along with 22 RBIs in 24 games since being recalled.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (8-11, 4.72 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mike Clevinger (10-7, 3.17)

Duffy finished August with two strong outings after a brief stint on the disabled list, allowing three runs on eight hits and five walks across 11 innings combined. The 29-year-old Californian yielded at least six runs five times and limited opponents to one or fewer eight times during his last 14 starts. Yan Gomes is 10-for-26 with three homers and nine RBIs versus Duffy, who is 2-9 with a 5.38 ERA in his career against the Indians.

Clevinger turned things around in August with a 3-0 record and 2.21 ERA, capped by a victory over Minnesota on Thursday in which he gave up two unearned runs over 6 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old Floridian went 1-4 with a 4.85 ERA in five July outings before posting five quality starts in six tries last month. Alcides Escobar is 1-for-14 with a homer versus Clevinger, who is 4-0 with a 2.49 ERA in his career against the Royals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City 2B Whit Merrifield went 0-for-5 on Monday to snap a 22-game on-base streak and a seven-game hitting streak.

2. Cleveland 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion needs one homer to reach 30 for the seventh consecutive season.

3. Royals 3B/1B Hunter Dozier is 11-for-24 with two homers and six RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Royals 3