KC Royals Series Preview: Royals (12-6) at Indians (6-11)

It wasn’t the best of trips to Chicago with Kansas City losing two of the three games that were played on the southside. From the brawl on Thursday to losing two games on Sunday, the KC Royals will be looking to bounce back at Cleveland.

Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians host the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field for the first time this season. Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Our boys in blue are .5 games behind division leading Detroit who’ll be in town later this week but first thing is first with their first trip to Progressive Field.

Probable Pitching Match-ups:
Monday, 5:10 pm – Jason Vargas/LHP (1-1, 6.75) v. Corey Kluber/RHP (0-2, 3.90)
Tuesday, 5:10 pm – Jeremy Guthrie/RHP (1-1, 5.50) v. Trevor Bauer/RHP (2-0, 0.95)
Wednesday, 5:10 pm – Yordano Ventura/RHP (2-1, 4.09) v. Danny Salazar/RHP (2-0, 2.08)

Comments on Pitching Match-ups – On paper this is a huge mismatch in my opinion with the Tribe throwing the reigning AL Cy Young winner in addition to two other pitchers who’ve yet to lose this season.
Game 1: Vargas will be looking to bounce back from his start versus Minnesota last week, while Kluber is still searching for his first win this season. Record wise Kluber has the worst record of the three pitchers KC will face in addition to the highest ERA.
Game 2: Guthrie also is looking to bounce back from a tough home start last week against one of his former teams. Bauer has been sensational in two starts this season posting a sub-one ERA while going 2-0 so far in April.
Game 3: In the series finale Ventura is scheduled to start, I say that since I’ve not seen if he’s appealing his five game suspension or will accept it. On the other side will be Salazar who won at Comerica Park on Friday night and like Bauer is unbeaten.

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Series Predictions – Record wise Cleveland sits in last place, but even with losing two of three in Detroit they were competitive. The Royals will try to snap their two game losing streak that they carry into this series. That said, the Tribe will start in my opinion their three best pitchers while the Royals send their four, five and one starters. Due to that I feel it’ll be back-to-back series defeats. Prediction: Indians win two of three.

2014 Meetings:
The KC Royals and Cleveland Indians meet for the first time this season in downtown Cleveland. In 19 meetings it was the Tribe winning the season series 10-9.

Franchise History:
All-time the Tribe hold an advantage of 323-306 and KC is 175-142 by Lake Erie which includes a 69-101 record at Progressive Field.

TV/Radio Coverage:
FOX Sports Kansas City will broadcast all three games with Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler on the call. FSKC will televise the ring and raising of the 2014 AL Champions banner during Royals Live which is hosted by Joel Goldberg and Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery from the field.

The Royals Radio Network (610 Sports in Kansas City) has Royals Hall of Famer/2007 Ford C. Frick Award winner Denny Matthews who’s joined in the booth by Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart describing all the action from the K.

2014 Series Schedule/Results v. Indians
April 27-29: Progressive Field
May 5-7: Kauffman Stadium
June 2-4: Kauffman Stadium
July 27-29: Progressive Field
September 14-17: Progressive Field
September 25-27: Kauffman Stadium

Game Notes:
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals

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