KC Royals Series Preview: Indians (24-26) at Royals (29-19)

After a 1-4 road trip through New York and Chicago our Royals return home for a six game home stand which begins tonight with Cleveland coming to town. Currently Kansas City sits in second place in the division behind the red hot Twins.

The Royals return home after a rough road trip. Photo Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Since we last saw the Tribe they’ve gone 15-11 which considering their previous record is a tear. The Royals are 13-10 during this same stretch.

Probable Pitching Match-ups:
Tuesday, 7:10 pm – Carlos Carrasco/RHP (6-4, 4.24) v. Jeremy Guthrie/RHP (4-3, 6.70)
Wednesday, 7:10 pm – Corey Kluber/RHP (3-5, 3.52) v. Jason Vargas/LHP (3-2, 5.16)
Thursday, 7:10 pm – Trevor Bauer/RHP (4-2, 2.97) v. Chris Young/RHP (4-1, 1.55)

Comments on Pitching Match-ups – Talent wise Cleveland is throwing three pitchers that would give anyone issues and could plague our KC Royals this week. The Indians will throw arguable their three best pitchers this series.

Game 1: Carrasco has been Royal pain since being put in the rotation last year for KC. Guthrie due to Saturday’s rainout gets over a week off since his start on Memorial Day.
Game 2: When we last saw Kluber he was winless and struggling, which is no longer the case as he’s unbeaten over his last four starts. Vargas has an ok outing in his defeat at Yankee Stadium where he departed down 2-0.
Game 3: Bauer is another Indians who gives KC fits it seems like when he takes the mound. Young finally suffered a defeat against Michael Pineda in the series finale.

Series Predictions – Not much seemed to go well on the five game road trip minus a rainout. It’s June which hopefully means the offense which struggled to end May. Alex Gordon had a three hit game on Sunday which hopefully propels him to a hot streak. It’ll be nice to have Kendrys Morales playing daily and not sitting due to not having the DH. Prediction: Indians win two of three.

2015 Meetings:
The Royals took two of three in their early May meeting winning 5-3 and 7-4 while dropping the middle game 10-3. Vargas and Franklin Morales got the winning decisions with Danny Duffy losing, Danny Salazar/Corey Kluber suffered defeats with Carrasco getting a win.

Franchise History:
All-time the Tribe hold an advantage of 325-310, Kansas City leads 166-149 in the city of fountains and 154-137 at the K.

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 left 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 (KC 4-2)
April 27-29: Progressive Field – W 6-2, W 11-5, L 7-5
May 5-7: Kauffman Stadium – W 5-3, L 10-3, W 7-4
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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