Indians at Royals
Right-hander Trevor Bauer could make his final start in an Indians uniform when visiting Cleveland tries for a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Bauer, who leads the majors in innings (152 1/3), has drawn interest from Philadelphia, Minnesota and the New York Yankees but the Indians - desperate for a bat - could be reluctant with an already thin starting rotation.
Cleveland, which is 33-12 since June 4, moved to within one game of first-place Minnesota in the American League Central with a 9-1 victory Saturday behind the hot hitting of Francisco Lindor. The All-Star shortstop recorded his third straight three-hit contest Saturday and is batting .432 with three home runs, eight RBIs and nine runs scored during a nine-game hitting streak while batting .439 versus Kansas City this season. Royals outfielder Bubba Starling has an 11-game hitting streak to start his career after going 1-for-4 on Saturday and has reached base in all 12 games he has appeared at the plate. Danny Duffy struck out a season-high 11 in his last turn and takes the ball for Kansas City on Sunday as he tries to improve on his 2-11 record against Cleveland.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (9-7, 3.49 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (4-5, 4.32)
Bauer received a no-decision after allowing three hits and three walks in 7 2/3 shutout innings of Cleveland's 2-1 loss at Toronto on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Californian, who is 50-30 since the start of 2016, has thrown at least 105 pitches in 19 of his 21 starts and boasts a 1.16 WHIP this season. Kansas City's Whit Merrifield is 9-for-27 with eight strikeouts versus Bauer, who is 5-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) against the Royals - 2-0, 4.26 in two turns this season.
Duffy received a no-decision after yielding one run, five hits and a walk in six innings of Kansas City's 5-4 victory at Atlanta on Tuesday. The 30-year-old Californian has recorded quality starts in five of his last six outings but is 1-2 in that stretch. Cleveland's Carlos Santana (day-to-day with a shoulder injury) is 15-for-33 with two home runs and five RBIs against Duffy, who lowered his ERA to 5.44 versus the Indians after permitting two runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 4-0 loss July 3.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians 3B Jose Ramirez has gone deep in three straight games after belting his 100th career home run Saturday.
2. Merrifield singled Saturday to extend his franchise-record streak without back-to-back hitless games to 129. Merrifield trails only Ichiro Suzuki (180 games from 2008-09), Ron LeFlore (133, 1978-79) and Al Oliver (129, 1980-81) in all-time annals.
3. Cleveland has won a franchise-best six straight at Kauffman Stadium, matching the record previously set in 2005, and leads the 2019 season series 10-5.