Indians at Royals
Whit Merrifield recently suggested the Kansas City Royals' luck was bound to change for the better after losing by one run five times during their 10-game slide. The 30-year-old second baseman has been proven right so far this weekend as the Royals attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Cleveland Indians on Sunday.
While Merrifield has had a hand in ending Kansas City's misery by going 5-for-9 over the first two games of this series, it has been the pitching staff that has made the weekend a pleasant one. Kansas City has allowed just one run and six hits in winning the first two meetings, including Saturday's 3-0 victory in which Homer Bailey and two relievers combined on a two-hitter. Meanwhile, the same pitching that served the Indians so well during a 6-1 stretch leading into this series has been roughed up for 11 runs and 20 hits by the Royals. Brad Miller accounted for both of Cleveland's hits on Saturday, finishing with a single and a double.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (1-2, 3.86 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (1-1, 5.74)
Kluber rebounded from a rocky outing on April 3 with a strong winning effort Tuesday in Detroit, allowing two runs - one earned - while striking out eight across six innings. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was sharp in his only other road turn as well, taking the loss on Opening Day at Minnesota despite yielding two runs in seven frames. Alex Gordon (8-for-55, 22 strikeouts) and Merrifield (8-for-33) have struggled versus Kluber, who is 7-2 with a 2.70 ERA in his last 11 starts against Kansas City.
Junis continued to record strikeouts at an impressive rate Tuesday but took the loss against Seattle after permitting four runs and eight hits in four frames. The 26-year-old fanned six batters in the outing and has recorded 20 strikeouts over 15 2/3 innings, yet he has surrendered at least three runs in each of his turns. Jose Ramirez (5-for-13, two doubles) and Carlos Santana (3-for-4) are among the Indians who have fared well against Junis, who is 2-2 with a 5.63 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) versus Cleveland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians SS Francisco Lindor (calf/ankle) went through a pregame workout on Saturday for the second consecutive day and likely will begin a rehab assignment early next week.
2. Royals C Martin Maldonado doubled in his first at-bat on Saturday to end a 0-for-17 slump.
3. Cleveland OF Carlos Gonzalez is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Columbus prior to Sunday's game.