Royals at Indians
The Cleveland Indians are trying to slowly cut into a big deficit in the American League Central and are playing some of their best baseball with wins in three straight and eight of the last 10 games. The Indians will try to stay hot when they host the Kansas City Royals on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.
Cleveland swept a three-game set from the Detroit Tigers over the weekend and has the schedule set up to do more damage going into the All-Star break with series against the Royals (two), Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds on the horizon. The Indians are averaging 7.8 runs in the last eight wins and got another boost to the offense on Sunday, when prospect Bobby Bradley made his major league debut and delivered an RBI double in his first at-bat. The Royals (27-51) sit in last place in the AL Central but split a four-game series against the Central-leading Minnesota Twins over the weekend after winning a series at Seattle. Cleveland will try to extend its winning streak on Monday behind right-hander Adam Plutko while Kansas City counters with righty Brad Keller.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Brad Keller (3-9, 4.45 ERA) vs. Indians RH Adam Plutko (3-1, 4.55)
Keller suffered through his shortest outing of the season on Wednesday at Seattle, allowing seven runs on nine hits and a pair of walks in four innings to absorb the loss. The 23-year-old surrendered a total of five runs in 22 innings over his previous three starts but went 0-2 in that span as the Kansas City offense totaled one run. Keller struck out a season-high 10 across 6 2/3 innings against Cleveland on April 12, yielding one run and three hits to earn the win.
Plutko did not stick around long enough to earn a decision at Texas on Wednesday, when he was charged with three runs - two earned - on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old served up one homer in that outing and is up to nine home runs allowed across 27 2/3 innings. Plutko appeared in two games - one start - against Kansas City last season and went 0-1 while allowing a total of five runs and eight hits - four homers - over 6 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals LF Alex Gordon recorded four doubles in the last three games.
2. Cleveland 1B Carlos Santana reached base safely in each of the last 18 games.
3. Kansas City RHP Kevin McCarthy recorded his first career save in his 125th appearance on Sunday.