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KANSAS CITY ( GUTHRIE ) CLEVELAND ( MCALLISTER ) |
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| 8.5un | 3 Final 4 |
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969 | KANSAS CITY | +135 | Ov 8,-115 | +135 | Ov 8.5,-105 | 970 | CLEVELAND | -145 | Un 8,-105 | -145 | Un 8.5,-115 |
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All Games | 9-8 | -0.8 | 7-9 | 3.5 | 0.256 | 0.309 | 3.8 | 0.224 | 0.295 | Road Games | 3-5 | -2.9 | 3-4 | 3.0 | 0.219 | 0.270 | 4.2 | 0.208 | 0.294 | vs Right-handed Starters | 6-7 | -2.6 | 6-6 | 3.5 | 0.254 | 0.303 | 3.9 | 0.224 | 0.301 | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2 | 3-4 | 4.4 | 0.276 | 0.310 | 3.3 | 0.225 | 0.312 | Grass Games | 9-8 | -0.8 | 7-9 | 3.5 | 0.256 | 0.309 | 3.8 | 0.224 | 0.295 | Night Games | 5-2 | +2.8 | 2-5 | 3.6 | 0.259 | 0.314 | 2.9 | 0.202 | 0.264 | Division | 4-7 | -4.8 | 5-5 | 3.1 | 0.247 | 0.301 | 4.7 | 0.247 | 0.328 |
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All Games | 3.5 | 0.256 | 0.309 | 17 | 570 | 146 | 40 | 6 | 0.01 | 57 | 44 | 91 | 12 | 115 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 7 | Road Games | 3.0 | 0.219 | 0.270 | 8 | 274 | 60 | 21 | 3 | 0.01 | 23 | 19 | 41 | 5 | 49 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 4 | Righty Starters | 3.5 | 0.254 | 0.303 | 13 | 437 | 111 | 33 | 4 | 0.01 | 42 | 31 | 65 | 9 | 88 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 4 |
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All Games | 3.77 | 1.346 | 45.3 | 23 | 19 | 36 | 1 | 25 | 55 | 2-4 | 6 | 3 | 66.7% | Road Games | 2.21 | 1.377 | 20.3 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 28 | 1-3 | 2 | 2 | 50% |
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All Games | 8-10 | -3.6 | 10-8 | 4.3 | 0.236 | 0.328 | 4.7 | 0.263 | 0.342 | Home Games | 4-5 | -3.1 | 5-4 | 4.0 | 0.237 | 0.330 | 4.3 | 0.260 | 0.327 | vs Right-handed Starters | 7-4 | +2.1 | 8-3 | 5.5 | 0.261 | 0.364 | 4.6 | 0.264 | 0.344 | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -1.2 | 3-4 | 4.4 | 0.228 | 0.335 | 4.4 | 0.262 | 0.337 | Grass Games | 8-10 | -3.6 | 10-8 | 4.3 | 0.236 | 0.328 | 4.7 | 0.263 | 0.342 | Night Games | 4-3 | +1.1 | 4-3 | 4.3 | 0.239 | 0.331 | 4.4 | 0.272 | 0.351 | Division | 3-6 | -4.4 | 7-2 | 5.4 | 0.260 | 0.356 | 6.0 | 0.278 | 0.367 |
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All Games | 4.3 | 0.236 | 0.328 | 18 | 593 | 140 | 45 | 14 | 0.02 | 73 | 81 | 127 | 14 | 138 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 11 | Home Games | 4.0 | 0.237 | 0.330 | 9 | 287 | 68 | 24 | 7 | 0.02 | 35 | 40 | 58 | 5 | 66 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | Righty Starters | 5.5 | 0.261 | 0.364 | 11 | 371 | 97 | 33 | 11 | 0.03 | 59 | 60 | 83 | 13 | 92 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 6 |
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All Games | 2.76 | 1.330 | 58.6 | 23 | 18 | 46 | 3 | 32 | 64 | 5-3 | 6 | 2 | 75% | Home Games | 2.60 | 1.230 | 27.7 | 10 | 8 | 21 | 1 | 13 | 34 | 2-2 | 3 | 1 | 75% |
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4/7/2014 | VARGAS(L) | TAMPA BAY | MOORE(L) | 4-2 | W | -115 | 8 un | U | 8 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4/8/2014 | VENTURA(R) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 0-1 | L | +100 | 7.5 ev | U | 9 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4/9/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | TAMPA BAY | ODORIZZI(R) | 7-3 | W | +105 | 8.5 ov | O | 10 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 4/11/2014 | CHEN(L) | @ MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 1-10 | L | -125 | 8 un | O | 5 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 4/12/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | 1-7 | L | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4/13/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ MINNESOTA | CORREIA(R) | 3-4 | L | -125 | 8 un | U | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4/15/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ HOUSTON | HARRELL(R) | 4-2 | W | -165 | 8.5 un | U | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4/16/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ HOUSTON | KEUCHEL(L) | 6-4 | W | -115 | 8 un | O | 13 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 4/17/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ HOUSTON | FELDMAN(R) | 5-1 | W | -130 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4/18/2014 | VARGAS(L) | MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | 5-0 | W | -145 | 7.5 un | U | 11 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 4/19/2014 | CHEN(L) | MINNESOTA | CORREIA(R) | 5-4 | W | -145 | 8.5 un | O | 10 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 4/20/2014 | VENTURA(R) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | 3-8 | L | -180 | 8 un | O | 11 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 4/21/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ CLEVELAND | MCALLISTER(R) | | 4/22/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | | 4/23/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ CLEVELAND | MASTERSON(R) | | 4/24/2014 | CHEN(L) | @ CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | | 4/25/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | | 4/26/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ BALTIMORE | CHEN(L) | | 4/27/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ BALTIMORE | GONZALEZ(R) | |
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4/8/2014 | KLUBER(R) | SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 8-6 | W | -125 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4/9/2014 | MCALLISTER(R) | SAN DIEGO | STULTS(L) | 2-0 | W | -140 | 8 ov | U | 5 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 4/9/2014 | BAUER(R) | SAN DIEGO | ERLIN(L) | 1-2 | L | -120 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 4/10/2014 | SALAZAR(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | 3-7 | L | -130 | 8 ov | O | 6 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 4/11/2014 | CARRASCO(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 6-9 | L | 145 | 8 un | O | 10 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 4/12/2014 | MASTERSON(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | PAULINO(R) | 12-6 | W | -125 | 9 ov | O | 12 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 4/13/2014 | KLUBER(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | QUINTANA(L) | 3-4 | L | 105 | 8.5 ov | U | 7 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 4/16/2014 | MCALLISTER(R) | @ DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | 3-2 | W | 130 | 8 un | U | 5 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 4/17/2014 | SALAZAR(R) | @ DETROIT | VERLANDER(R) | 5-7 | L | 140 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 4/18/2014 | MASTERSON(R) | TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | 2-3 | L | -140 | 7.5 ev | U | 10 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 4/19/2014 | KLUBER(R) | TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | 0-5 | L | -120 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 4/20/2014 | CARRASCO(R) | TORONTO | MORROW(R) | 6-4 | W | +105 | 8.5 ov | O | 5 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 4/21/2014 | MCALLISTER(R) | KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | | 4/22/2014 | SALAZAR(R) | KANSAS CITY | SHIELDS(R) | | 4/23/2014 | MASTERSON(R) | KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | | 4/24/2014 | KLUBER(R) | KANSAS CITY | CHEN(L) | | 4/25/2014 | CARRASCO(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HUDSON(R) | | 4/26/2014 | MCALLISTER(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | LINCECUM(R) | | 4/27/2014 | SALAZAR(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | | 4/28/2014 | | @ LA ANGELS | | |
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| | | KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - James Shields thinks back to last year, thoughtfully piecing together what was missing from the Kansas City Royals as they made a late push for the postseason.
The pitching was strong. The offense was coming around. The defense was sublime.
He finally settled on experience.
''These guys that didn't realize or have never been to September, when you're fighting for a playoff spot, now you have that experience,'' Shields said. ''And I think that was one of the things we were lacking last season, the experience. You tend to put too much on your shoulders. And I think the second half we definitely relaxed and put all that aside and had fun and played the game the way we know how to play, and it showed.
''I think with the experience factor now,'' Shields concluded, ''we're ready to go.''
After finishing 86-76 a year ago, and contending into September for the first time in a decade, the Royals have their sets sight squarely on their first playoff appearance since 1985 this year.
Anything less would be a disappointment. Anything less would be a failure.
''Last year was a blast. When the end of the season came in Chicago, nobody wanted to leave,'' first baseman Eric Hosmer said. ''They knew how close we were. We were right there. And it left a good taste in everyone's mouth going into the offseason, knowing how good everyone can be.''
Indeed, the Royals return most of their key players from a year ago, signing left-hander Jason Vargas to replace their only significant loss, starting pitcher Ervin Santana. They also upgraded at their weakest spots, trading for Norichika Aoki to play right field and bat leadoff and signing Omar Infante to settle a second base position that has been a black hole for years.
All of which left the notoriously frugal franchise with a record-setting payroll.
Royals manager Ned Yost hopes all those moves will pay off for a rotation that was among the league's best last year, and an offense that was among the league's worst.
''It's going to be a lineup that has offensive sequence from one to nine. You're not going to have any dead spots,'' Yost said. ''You're not going to get something going and then bam, run into a wall and have to get going again. At least, I hope not. I don't think so.''
So with more experience and an upgraded lineup, Kansas City enters its season opener Sunday at Detroit with boundless enthusiasm. | | CLEVELAND: CLEVELAND (AP) - Jason Kipnis didn't want it to end. He had plenty of company.
After the final out ended the club's magical, turnaround season so jarringly last October, Kipnis, who made his first All-Star team in 2013 and a few of his teammates lingered in the dugout and watched as Tampa Bay's players celebrated their 4-0 win in the AL wild-card playoff game.
One and done. Hardly the finish Cleveland wanted.
And once again, the city would remain without a major sports championship, a drought approaching its 50-year anniversary.
But despite their brief postseason appearance in manager Terry Francona's first year, the Indians intend to play in October again - and again.
''We don't want it to be a fluke,'' Kipnis said. ''We don't want to be a one-trick pony. We want to be at the top and we want to stay there.''
Hoping to build off their unexpected 92-win campaign, the Indians enter 2014 confident they can not only contend this season, but go even further.
During spring training in Arizona, first baseman Nick Swisher, who also serves as the club's high-energy hype man, handed out ''Unfinished Business'' T-shirts to his teammates.
The Indians aren't satisfied.
''Last season, hopefully, was a steppingstone that we needed to get us going in the right direction,'' Swisher said. ''Last year was that amazing year to get us in the right mind frame to say, `Hey, we can do this. We are a team. And people need to start recognizing it.'''
Cleveland had to win its final 10 games just to make the playoffs. The late-season kick wouldn't have been necessary if the Indians had played more consistently, and more evenness has been a focus for Francona, who feels his club has the makings to do something special again.
''I love our team,'' said the AL's manager of the year. ''I love coming to the ballpark and watching them play. They are easy to like because they try hard. When you can show up with a group of guys and you respect the way they go about things it makes the challenging times more fulfilling. We know we can do it now. We've got to try and go do it better.''
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| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (KANSAS CITY-CLEVELAND) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Royals-Indians Preview* ========================
Kansas City (9-7) at Cleveland (7-10), 7:05 p.m. EDT
The Cleveland Indians are hoping a pep talk by manager Terry Francona will help kick-start their season.
The Kansas City Royals still remember a series in Cleveland last season when they were swept.
These AL Central rivals meet for the first time Monday night to open a four-game series, with both looking to improve upon poor divisional records.
Cleveland (8-10) ended a three-game slide with Sunday's 6-4 home victory over Toronto. It came after Francona delivered a speech to his struggling club after Saturday's lifeless 5-0 defeat.
"Nobody likes coming to the ballpark and look at your record when it's not what you want it to be," Francona said. "That's plain and simple. Saying that, I don't want them dragging in here, because it's a new day.
"During a baseball season there's a lot of grinding that needs to be done. Sometimes the game's easier than it is (at other times). That's simple fact. So when it's not going perfect, you grind the best you can."
The Indians are 3-6 against fellow AL Central clubs while the Royals are 4-7. Cleveland won 10 of 19 meetings last year.
"Any time you're playing a division game, it's key," third baseman Eric Hosmer told the Royals' official website. "Because you look at last year, and our schedule was pretty tough at the end and their schedule wasn't as tough as ours, and they really made up a lot of games on us because of that, I think."
Kansas City (9-8) was swept in a three-game set at Cleveland right before the All-Star break to fall 6 1/2 games behind the Indians, who went on to claim a wild-card spot. The Royals went 4-2 in the season series after the break.
"We got swept," Hosmer said. "And I believe the second half, we played them well, but there was just too much ground to make up."
Cleveland's Carlos Santana, Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley combined for 33 RBIs in last year's season series. Brantley leads the Indians with 16 but Santana and Cabrera have combined for eight.
Salvador Perez had a team-high 12 RBIs against Cleveland last year, but he went 0 for 12 in a weekend series against Minnesota and is mired in a 4-for-38 slide.
The Royals had their season-high five-game win streak snapped Sunday with an 8-3 defeat to the Twins.
"We won the series and we were going for a sweep, but it didn't happen and now we're getting ready for Cleveland," designated hitter Billy Butler said.
Monday's pitching matchup features right-handers trying to reach 3-0 in Cleveland's Zach McAllister (2-0, 2.04 ERA) and Kansas City's Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 4.34). Neither club has lost yet with these starters.
McAllister allowed one run over six innings in Wednesday's 3-2 victory at Detroit to win his second straight outing. He is 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA in three career outings versus Kansas City.
Guthrie, who opened 5-0 last season, gave up four runs over six innings in Wednesday's 6-4, 11-inning win at Houston. He is 4-3 with a 4.41 ERA as a starter against the Indians.
The Indians are expected to activate Jason Giambi on Monday for his season debut after he was out with a broken rib.
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| Last Updated: 3/19/2024 12:13:41 AM EST. |
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