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CLEVELAND ( KLUBER ) KANSAS CITY ( KENNEDY ) |
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923 | CLEVELAND | -200 | Ov 8,-110 | -200 | Ov 8,-120 | 924 | KANSAS CITY | +185 | Un 8,-110 | +185 | Un 8,+100 |
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All Games | 66-53 | -17.8 | 43-69 | 4.8 | 0.258 | 0.331 | 0.421 | 0.752 | 3.8 | 0.238 | 0.296 | 0.385 | 0.681 | Road Games | 35-26 | -0.5 | 19-37 | 4.7 | 0.250 | 0.322 | 0.412 | 0.734 | 4.0 | 0.237 | 0.302 | 0.375 | 0.677 | vs Right-handed Starters | 45-31 | -5.6 | 29-42 | 5.0 | 0.259 | 0.334 | 0.428 | 0.762 | 3.8 | 0.236 | 0.288 | 0.387 | 0.675 | Past 7 Games | 6-1 | +5.1 | 1-5 | 5.4 | 0.248 | 0.328 | 0.438 | 0.766 | 2.0 | 0.199 | 0.249 | 0.314 | 0.563 | Grass Games | 62-50 | -18.3 | 42-63 | 4.9 | 0.260 | 0.333 | 0.425 | 0.758 | 3.9 | 0.241 | 0.297 | 0.390 | 0.687 | Night Games | 42-37 | -14.9 | 28-46 | 4.8 | 0.251 | 0.328 | 0.417 | 0.745 | 3.9 | 0.244 | 0.298 | 0.389 | 0.687 | Division | 27-22 | -10.5 | 15-31 | 4.6 | 0.259 | 0.337 | 0.417 | 0.754 | 3.4 | 0.236 | 0.296 | 0.357 | 0.653 |
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All Games | 4.8 | 0.258 | 0.331 | 119 | 4037 | 1040 | 219 | 20 | 133 | 0.421 | 547 | 445 | 861 | 63 | 844 | 105 | 59 | 112 | 38 | Road Games | 4.7 | 0.250 | 0.322 | 61 | 2097 | 524 | 106 | 12 | 70 | 0.412 | 270 | 224 | 442 | 34 | 435 | 53 | 37 | 53 | 21 | Righty Starters | 5.0 | 0.259 | 0.334 | 76 | 2574 | 666 | 147 | 14 | 87 | 0.428 | 362 | 292 | 547 | 44 | 540 | 66 | 31 | 58 | 23 |
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All Games | 2.99 | 1.183 | 361.7 | 138 | 120 | 310 | 38 | 118 | 411 | 14-19 | 25 | 7 | 78.1% | Road Games | 3.39 | 1.280 | 186 | 83 | 70 | 165 | 19 | 73 | 212 | 8-10 | 18 | 3 | 85.7% |
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All Games | 61-59 | +8 | 57-58 | 4.5 | 0.257 | 0.308 | 0.414 | 0.722 | 4.6 | 0.261 | 0.323 | 0.411 | 0.734 | Home Games | 32-27 | +5.7 | 27-32 | 4.4 | 0.261 | 0.312 | 0.419 | 0.731 | 4.6 | 0.255 | 0.314 | 0.397 | 0.711 | vs Right-handed Starters | 46-40 | +10.3 | 40-41 | 4.5 | 0.259 | 0.309 | 0.422 | 0.731 | 4.5 | 0.262 | 0.325 | 0.406 | 0.731 | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.6 | 4-2 | 7.0 | 0.303 | 0.379 | 0.484 | 0.863 | 6.0 | 0.273 | 0.315 | 0.473 | 0.789 | Grass Games | 58-58 | +5.1 | 54-57 | 4.5 | 0.257 | 0.307 | 0.414 | 0.721 | 4.6 | 0.261 | 0.322 | 0.408 | 0.730 | Night Games | 40-41 | +2.8 | 36-43 | 4.3 | 0.256 | 0.302 | 0.408 | 0.710 | 4.7 | 0.261 | 0.319 | 0.408 | 0.727 | Division | 23-24 | -0.3 | 24-20 | 4.9 | 0.269 | 0.320 | 0.431 | 0.751 | 5.0 | 0.266 | 0.331 | 0.406 | 0.737 |
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All Games | 4.5 | 0.257 | 0.308 | 120 | 4121 | 1061 | 181 | 18 | 143 | 0.414 | 508 | 298 | 897 | 66 | 751 | 120 | 54 | 108 | 58 | Home Games | 4.4 | 0.261 | 0.312 | 59 | 1959 | 512 | 95 | 9 | 65 | 0.419 | 246 | 145 | 407 | 30 | 373 | 49 | 30 | 46 | 27 | Righty Starters | 4.5 | 0.259 | 0.309 | 86 | 2963 | 768 | 131 | 11 | 110 | 0.422 | 365 | 213 | 642 | 53 | 545 | 85 | 38 | 74 | 40 |
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All Games | 4.09 | 1.383 | 407 | 207 | 185 | 394 | 38 | 169 | 370 | 24-20 | 27 | 17 | 61.4% | Home Games | 3.67 | 1.318 | 208.7 | 96 | 85 | 198 | 17 | 77 | 180 | 16-7 | 13 | 7 | 65% |
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8/4/2017 | BAUER(R) | NY YANKEES | GARCIA(L) | 7-2 | W | -115 | 9 ev | P | 8 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 8/5/2017 | SALAZAR(R) | NY YANKEES | MONTGOMERY(L) | 1-2 | L | -135 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 8/6/2017 | CARRASCO(R) | NY YANKEES | SEVERINO(R) | 1-8 | L | -120 | 7.5 un | O | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 8/8/2017 | KLUBER(R) | COLORADO | MARQUEZ(R) | 4-1 | W | -250 | 8 ov | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8/9/2017 | BAUER(R) | COLORADO | SENZATELA(R) | 2-3 | L | -185 | 9 ev | U | 7 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 8/10/2017 | SALAZAR(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | SNELL(L) | 1-4 | L | -130 | 8 un | U | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 8/11/2017 | CARRASCO(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | FARIA(R) | 5-0 | W | -125 | 8 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 8/12/2017 | CLEVINGER(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 3-0 | W | 135 | 7.5 ov | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8/13/2017 | KLUBER(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | PRUITT(R) | 4-3 | W | -165 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8/14/2017 | BAUER(R) | @ BOSTON | FISTER(R) | 7-3 | W | -110 | 10 un | P | 10 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 8/15/2017 | SALAZAR(R) | @ MINNESOTA | COLON(R) | 8-1 | W | -160 | 9.5 ov | U | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8/17/2017 | CARRASCO(R) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 9-3 | W | -170 | 9 un | O | 14 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 8/17/2017 | MERRITT(L) | @ MINNESOTA | SLEGERS(R) | 2-4 | L | -120 | 10 un | U | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 8/18/2017 | CLEVINGER(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | KENNEDY(R) | | 8/19/2017 | BAUER(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | | 8/20/2017 | SALAZAR(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | HAMMEL(R) | | 8/21/2017 | CLEVINGER(R) | BOSTON | PORCELLO(R) | | 8/22/2017 | CARRASCO(R) | BOSTON | RODRIGUEZ(L) | | 8/23/2017 | KLUBER(R) | BOSTON | POMERANZ(L) | | 8/24/2017 | | BOSTON | | | 8/25/2017 | | KANSAS CITY | | |
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8/4/2017 | HAMMEL(R) | SEATTLE | PAXTON(L) | 2-5 | L | +145 | 8.5 un | U | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 8/6/2017 | DUFFY(L) | SEATTLE | GONZALES(L) | 7-8 | L | -135 | 8.5 ev | O | 10 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 8/6/2017 | JUNIS(R) | SEATTLE | RAMIREZ(R) | 9-1 | W | -115 | 9.5 un | O | 13 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8/7/2017 | KENNEDY(R) | ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | 3-11 | L | +110 | 9 ev | O | 8 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 8/8/2017 | VARGAS(L) | ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | 3-10 | L | +115 | 8.5 ov | O | 6 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 8/9/2017 | CAHILL(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LEAKE(R) | 5-8 | L | 130 | 8.5 un | O | 15 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 8/10/2017 | HAMMEL(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | 6-8 | L | 135 | 9 un | O | 12 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 8/11/2017 | DUFFY(L) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | LOPEZ(R) | 3-6 | L | -130 | 9 un | P | 7 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 8/12/2017 | KENNEDY(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SHIELDS(R) | 5-4 | W | -150 | 10 un | U | 10 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 8/13/2017 | VARGAS(L) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | HOLLAND(L) | 14-6 | W | -135 | 10 ov | O | 16 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 8/14/2017 | JUNIS(R) | @ OAKLAND | COTTON(R) | 6-2 | W | 110 | 9 ev | U | 10 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 8/15/2017 | HAMMEL(R) | @ OAKLAND | SMITH(R) | 8-10 | L | -125 | 9 un | O | 8 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 8/16/2017 | DUFFY(L) | @ OAKLAND | BLACKBURN(R) | 7-6 | W | -120 | 9.5 un | O | 14 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 8/18/2017 | KENNEDY(R) | CLEVELAND | CLEVINGER(R) | | 8/19/2017 | VARGAS(L) | CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | | 8/20/2017 | HAMMEL(R) | CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | | 8/22/2017 | DUFFY(L) | COLORADO | GRAY(R) | | 8/23/2017 | KENNEDY(R) | COLORADO | HOFFMAN(R) | | 8/24/2017 | | COLORADO | | | 8/25/2017 | | @ CLEVELAND | | |
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| | | CLEVELAND: 2016: 94-67, first place, AL champions, lost to Chicago Cubs in World Series.
Manager: Terry Francona (fifth season).
He's Here: 1B-DH Edwin Encarnacion, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Carlos Frias, OF Wily Mo Pena, CF Bradley Zimmer, SS Eric Stamets.
He's Outta Here: 1B-DH Mike Napoli, OF Coco Crisp, OF Rajai Davis, C Chris Gimenez, 1B Jesus Aguilar, OF Marlon Byrd, RHP Jeff Manship.
Projected lineup: SS Francisco Lindor (.301, 15 HRs, 78 RBIs, Gold Glove, league-leading 15 sac flies in first full MLB season), 2B Jason Kipnis (.275, 23, 82, career-high 156 games), LF Michael Brantley (.231, 0, 7 in 11 games following shoulder surgery; .310, 15, 84, MLB-best 45 doubles, 15 SBs in 2015), DH Edwin Encarnacion (.263, 42, AL-high 142 RBIs for Toronto), 1B Carlos Santana (.259, 34, 87, 99 BBs, 99 Ks), 3B Jose Ramirez (.312, 11, 76, played 4 positions) or Giovanny Urshela (.225, 6, 21 in 81 games for Cleveland), RF Brandon Guyer (.333, 2, 14 in 38 games with Indians; .241, 7, 18 in 63 games with Rays; led majors with 31 HBP) or Lonnie Chisenhall (.286, 8, 57), C Yan Gomes (.167, 9, 34 in 74 games due to shoulder injury), CF Tyler Naquin (.296, 14, 43) or Austin Jackson (.254, 0, 18 in 54 games with White Sox before left knee surgery).
Rotation: RH Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14 ERA, 227 Ks, third in Cy Young voting), RH Carlos Carrasco (11-8, 3.32, 25 starts due to injuries), RH Danny Salazar (11-6, 3.87, 25 starts, limited in postseason by injury), RH Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26, 28 starts, began season in bullpen), RH Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.40, 5.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio).
Key relievers: LH Andrew Miller (10-1, 1.45, 12 saves, 70 appearances with Yankees and Indians), RH Cody Allen (3-5, 2.51, 32/35 saves), RH Bryan Shaw (2-5, 3.24 in league-high 75 games; 70 games in each of past four seasons), RH Dan Otero (5-1, 1.53, 70 2/3 innings), LH Boone Logan (2-5, 3.69, 66 games with Rockies).
Hot Spot: Brantley's Right Shoulder. An All-Star in 2014, Brantley missed out on the fun last season as the Indians won the pennant without him. His return is vital for Cleveland as it tries to make another deep run because he can help provide lineup protection for Encarnacion and stabilize an outfield that was under constant change in 2016. Brantley may not hit for the same extra-base power he had in the past, but he could still offer a high average and excellent defense.
Outlook: With perhaps the league's deepest pitching staff, the Indians are an AL favorite and appear poised to return to the World Series. Last year, they exceeded expectations and built a 3-1 Series lead against the Cubs before losing three straight ' including a dramatic Game 7 at home. One elusive win from the franchise's first championship since 1948. This season, the Indians will try to finish the job. There are injury concerns with Brantley and Kipnis, who won't be ready for the start of the season because of shoulder inflammation. Ramirez could slide over to help fill in at second base. But the addition of Encarnacion finally gives Cleveland the intimidating, middle-of-the-order slugger the club has coveted since the glory days of Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle. Cleveland is a baseball town again as Indians fans spent on tickets this winter and are rallying around the club the way they did back in the mid-1990s. Lindor is on the cusp of superstardom, and one of the Indians' top priorities should be signing him to a long-term deal while he's still affordable. | | KANSAS CITY: 2016: 81-81, third place.
Manager: Ned Yost (eighth season).
He's Here: OF Jorge Soler, RHP Jason Hammel, RHP Nathan Karns, DH Brandon Moss, LHP Travis Wood.
He's Outta Here: RHP Wade Davis, DH Kendrys Morales, OF Jarrod Dyson, RHP Luke Hochevar, RHP Edinson Volquez.
Projected lineup: SS Alcides Escobar (.261, 7 HRs, 55 RBIs), LF Alex Gordon (.220, 17, 40), CF Lorenzo Cain (.287, 9, 56), 1B Eric Hosmer (.266, 25, 104), DH Brandon Moss (.255, 28, 67), RF Jorge Soler (.238, 12, 31 with Cubs; likely to start season on DL with strained oblique), 3B Mike Moustakas (.240, 7, 13), C Salvador Perez (.247, 22, 64), Raul Mondesi (.185, 2, 13).
Rotation: LH Danny Duffy (12-3, 3.51 ERA, 188 Ks), RH Ian Kennedy (11-11, 3.68, 184 Ks), RH Jason Hammel (11-11, 3.83 with Cubs), LH Jason Vargas (0-0, 2.25 in 3 starts after returning from Tommy John surgery), RH Nathan Karns (6-2, 5.15 with Mariners).
Key relievers: RH Kelvin Herrera (2-6, 2.75, 12 saves), RH Joakim Soria (5-8, 4.05), LH Matt Strahm (2-2, 1.23), LH Travis Wood (4-0, 2.95), LH Scott Alexander (0-0, 3.32), RH Chris Young (3-9, 6.19).
Hot Spot: Starting Rotation. Duffy showed signs of blossoming into an ace late last year, but is yet to put it all together for a full season. Hammel was signed after the tragic death of RHP Yordano Ventura in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. Vargas barely pitched last season after coming back from elbow surgery. Karns has intriguing potential, but might end up in the bullpen unless he lives up to it quickly.
Outlook: Royals GM Dayton Moore thinks his starting rotation is the best it has been during his tenure, even if just about every spot is tenuous. He also thinks Kansas City has more power at the plate this year thanks to Moustakas' return from a torn ACL and the signing of Moss. Paulo Orlando (.302, 5, 43, 14 SBs) will replace Soler in right field at the start of the season. But there are plenty of question marks up and down the lineup, not to mention on the pitching staff, and several things must break right for Kansas City to make noise in the AL Central and take a run at its third World Series appearance in four years. |
| | Royals get first of 10 remaining chances to beat Indians
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In the next 15 games, the Kansas City Royals should have a clear vision of whether they are truly postseason contenders. They play six of their next nine games against the defending American League champion Cleveland Indians, who lead the AL Central. The nine other games are all against postseason wannabes: the Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins. The Royals and Indians open a three-game series Friday at Kauffman Stadium in the first of 10 remaining games between the teams. Kansas City manager Ned Yost said he is shooting to win the division, not be a wild-card team in October. With so many games left against the Indians, including four in September in Cleveland, the Royals cannot afford to slip up against them at home. "I think we all realize over the last couple years that's kind of how the schedule works out now, where that last month you really play a lot of teams in your division," Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "I think it's something we all realize is something that still has to happen. When you have the ability to control your own destiny, you feel you have a shot as a team. Your goal is to be on top of the division at the end of the year. We still have that in our sights because it's extremely possible." The Royals will be rested for the series after a day off Thursday while the Indians played a doubleheader at Minnesota. The Indians split the two games and are a half-game up on the Royals. "They're huge series, just because of how good they are as a team," Hosmer said. "So if you go in there and win a series against a team like that, not only are you gaining ground in the standings but you're gaining a lot of momentum as well. It's a huge deal for your confidence as a team, especially the caliber of arms they have over there." The Indians will start AL Cy Young Award candidate Corey Kluber (11-3, 2.71 ERA) on Friday. Right-handers Trevor Bauer and Danny Salazar will be the Indians' starters for the final two games. "If you go in there and take two of three and, say, beat a guy like Kluber on the mound, it can do a lot of good for your team," Hosmer said. Hosmer is 14-for-50 (.280) with three home runs and 13 RBIs off Kluber. "He's unbelievable. He really is," Hosmer said. "He's just really identified himself as one of the top guys in this game. Especially down the stretch of crunch time, he always seems to step up for his team. "That's part of the big leagues, man. If you want to win a division, you've got to go through a guy like that, and we realize that. We know it's going to be a tough challenge, but that's why we all sign up to play, for moments like that." Right-hander Ian Kennedy (4-8, 4.80) will oppose Kluber in the first game. On paper, it appears to be a mismatch. Kennedy hasn't won in 10 home starts this season, going 0-5 with a 5.43 ERA. He is winless in his past 14 Kauffman Stadium starts since beating the Twins on Aug. 20, 2016. That matches the franchise record for consecutive winless home starts, held by Mac Suzuki (1999-2000) and Glendon Rusch (1997-98). It is not a record Kennedy wants. Some Royals hitters have done well against Kluber. Melky Cabrera is 27-for-56 (.472), while Mike Moustakas is 17-for-37 (.459) with one home run. Moustakas' next home run will be his 36th this season, tying Steve Balboni's club record. After a slow start, the Indians are back in control of the division primarily because of their strong starting pitching. "I don't think you get too satisfied in the middle of August," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I think we're trending in the right direction. But I think with those types of things, you just show up every day and keep plugging away or the trend can go the other way, until you're done. But it does feel better. "When you show up and you feel like you're going to get a pretty well-pitched game, that helps everybody. Some of it goes to our pitchers' work ethic. Our pitchers don't seem to tire as you get into August, September. I think that helps a ton." |
| Last Updated: 3/28/2024 6:28:44 PM EST. |
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