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KANSAS CITY ( DUFFY )
CLEVELAND ( KLUBER ) |
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| 967 | KANSAS CITY | +1.5,-190 | +1.5,-175 | | 968 | CLEVELAND | -1.5,+165 | -1.5,+155 |
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| All Games | 45-41 | -3 | 42-40 | 4.2 | 0.263 | 0.312 | 4.0 | 0.254 | 0.310 | | Road Games | 24-19 | +5.2 | 21-19 | 4.6 | 0.271 | 0.316 | 3.7 | 0.243 | 0.302 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 33-29 | -2.6 | 33-26 | 4.4 | 0.266 | 0.313 | 4.0 | 0.257 | 0.312 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.4 | 4-3 | 4.1 | 0.280 | 0.321 | 4.1 | 0.274 | 0.331 | | Grass Games | 43-39 | -3.4 | 40-38 | 4.2 | 0.264 | 0.313 | 3.9 | 0.252 | 0.308 | | Day Games | 17-17 | -2.9 | 16-17 | 3.9 | 0.258 | 0.309 | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.310 | | Division | 17-18 | -4.2 | 21-13 | 4.4 | 0.270 | 0.320 | 4.4 | 0.268 | 0.326 |
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| All Games | 4.2 | 0.263 | 0.312 | 86 | 2962 | 780 | 222 | 50 | 0.02 | 333 | 208 | 503 | 68 | 581 | 85 | 49 | 59 | 30 | | Road Games | 4.6 | 0.271 | 0.316 | 43 | 1565 | 424 | 120 | 28 | 0.02 | 181 | 103 | 265 | 32 | 308 | 50 | 29 | 30 | 10 | | Righty Starters | 4.4 | 0.266 | 0.313 | 62 | 2134 | 568 | 164 | 37 | 0.02 | 251 | 145 | 351 | 52 | 407 | 62 | 30 | 45 | 18 |
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| All Games | 3.54 | 1.300 | 239.3 | 103 | 94 | 215 | 16 | 96 | 235 | 13-11 | 24 | 6 | 80% | | Road Games | 2.55 | 1.209 | 116.7 | 41 | 33 | 98 | 7 | 43 | 113 | 6-7 | 9 | 4 | 69.2% |
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| All Games | 42-44 | -4.5 | 45-38 | 4.4 | 0.253 | 0.320 | 4.6 | 0.260 | 0.325 | | Home Games | 24-16 | +4.6 | 23-16 | 4.5 | 0.264 | 0.330 | 4.6 | 0.250 | 0.311 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 11-16 | -5 | 12-14 | 3.8 | 0.239 | 0.303 | 4.8 | 0.257 | 0.324 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +1.2 | 4-3 | 4.0 | 0.223 | 0.273 | 3.0 | 0.256 | 0.296 | | Grass Games | 39-41 | -4.7 | 42-37 | 4.3 | 0.250 | 0.317 | 4.6 | 0.259 | 0.325 | | Day Games | 17-17 | -1.1 | 17-17 | 4.3 | 0.246 | 0.328 | 4.7 | 0.247 | 0.317 | | Division | 15-18 | -6 | 19-13 | 4.6 | 0.273 | 0.334 | 4.8 | 0.259 | 0.324 |
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| All Games | 4.4 | 0.253 | 0.320 | 86 | 2955 | 749 | 242 | 78 | 0.03 | 362 | 289 | 627 | 48 | 616 | 76 | 73 | 83 | 50 | | Home Games | 4.5 | 0.264 | 0.330 | 40 | 1347 | 355 | 116 | 37 | 0.03 | 169 | 134 | 267 | 22 | 283 | 37 | 37 | 43 | 19 | | Lefty Starters | 3.8 | 0.239 | 0.303 | 27 | 922 | 220 | 60 | 16 | 0.02 | 96 | 85 | 189 | 9 | 182 | 29 | 22 | 22 | 15 |
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| All Games | 3.20 | 1.285 | 281 | 119 | 100 | 243 | 27 | 118 | 271 | 20-10 | 21 | 10 | 67.7% | | Home Games | 3.33 | 1.194 | 132.3 | 58 | 49 | 107 | 13 | 51 | 135 | 11-5 | 12 | 7 | 63.2% |
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| 6/22/2014 | VENTURA(R) | SEATTLE | ELIAS(L) | 1-2 | L | -140 | 8 ev | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 6/23/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | LA DODGERS | GREINKE(R) | 5-3 | W | -110 | 7.5 un | O | 11 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | | 6/24/2014 | DUFFY(L) | LA DODGERS | KERSHAW(L) | 0-2 | L | +140 | 7 un | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | | 6/25/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | LA DODGERS | HAREN(R) | 4-5 | L | -165 | 7.5 ov | O | 8 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 1 | | 6/27/2014 | VARGAS(L) | LA ANGELS | SHOEMAKER(R) | 8-6 | W | -125 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 1 | | 6/28/2014 | VENTURA(R) | LA ANGELS | SANTIAGO(L) | 2-6 | L | -135 | 8.5 ev | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 0 | | 6/29/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | LA ANGELS | WILSON(L) | 5-4 | W | +110 | 8.5 un | O | 11 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 6/30/2014 | DUFFY(L) | @ MINNESOTA | PINO(R) | 6-1 | W | -135 | 8 ov | U | 10 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 2 | | 7/1/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | 2-10 | L | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 12 | 0 | | 7/2/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ MINNESOTA | CORREIA(R) | 4-0 | W | -135 | 8 un | U | 9 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | | 7/4/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ CLEVELAND | TOMLIN(R) | 7-1 | W | 100 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | | 7/5/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ CLEVELAND | HOUSE(L) | 3-7 | L | 105 | 8 un | O | 12 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 9 | 0 | | 7/6/2014 | DUFFY(L) | @ CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | | | 7/7/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | ODORIZZI(R) | | | 7/8/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ TAMPA BAY | BEDARD(L) | | | 7/9/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | COBB(R) | | | 7/10/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | DETROIT | SMYLY(L) | | | 7/11/2014 | DUFFY(L) | DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | | | 7/12/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | DETROIT | PORCELLO(R) | | | 7/13/2014 | | DETROIT | | |
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| 6/22/2014 | TOMLIN(R) | DETROIT | SCHERZER(R) | 4-10 | L | +100 | 8 un | O | 11 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 0 | | 6/24/2014 | MASTERSON(R) | @ ARIZONA | MILEY(L) | 8-9 | L | 115 | 8 un | O | 14 | 12 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 2 | | 6/25/2014 | KLUBER(R) | @ ARIZONA | ANDERSON(R) | 6-1 | W | -130 | 8 un | U | 10 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 6/27/2014 | BAUER(R) | @ SEATTLE | YOUNG(R) | 2-3 | L | -125 | 8 ev | U | 7 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 1 | | 6/28/2014 | TOMLIN(R) | @ SEATTLE | ELIAS(L) | 5-0 | W | 110 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | | 6/29/2014 | HOUSE(L) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 0-3 | L | 155 | 6.5 un | U | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 0 | | 6/30/2014 | KLUBER(R) | @ LA DODGERS | HAREN(R) | 0-1 | L | -125 | 7 un | U | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 7/1/2014 | MASTERSON(R) | @ LA DODGERS | BECKETT(R) | 10-3 | W | 120 | 7 un | O | 13 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 1 | | 7/2/2014 | BAUER(R) | @ LA DODGERS | RYU(L) | 5-4 | W | 125 | 7 ov | O | 9 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 3 | | 7/4/2014 | TOMLIN(R) | KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 1-7 | L | -110 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 0 | | 7/5/2014 | HOUSE(L) | KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 7-3 | W | -115 | 8 un | O | 14 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 0 | | 7/6/2014 | KLUBER(R) | KANSAS CITY | DUFFY(L) | | | 7/7/2014 | MASTERSON(R) | NY YANKEES | NUNO(L) | | | 7/8/2014 | BAUER(R) | NY YANKEES | TANAKA(R) | | | 7/9/2014 | TOMLIN(R) | NY YANKEES | WHITLEY(R) | | | 7/10/2014 | HOUSE(L) | NY YANKEES | PHELPS(R) | | | 7/11/2014 | KLUBER(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | NOESI(R) | | | 7/12/2014 | MASTERSON(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | CARROLL(R) | | | 7/13/2014 | | CHI WHITE SOX | | |
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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* ========================
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD STATS Writer
Kansas City (45-40) at Cleveland (41-44), 1:05 p.m. EDT
After a rare loss and poor pitching performance on the road, the Kansas City Royals are in good position to bounce back with their hottest pitcher taking the mound.
The offense may not feel the same confidence ahead of a matchup with Corey Kluber.
Danny Duffy will try to continue rolling following an outstanding June as the Royals seek their fifth straight road series win Sunday against Kluber and the Cleveland Indians.
Kansas City starters had posted a 2.58 ERA while winning 11 of the previous 13 road games before Jeremy Guthrie allowed six runs and a season-high 11 hits over four-plus innings in Saturday's 7-3 loss at Progressive Field.
The Royals (45-41), four games behind AL Central-leading Detroit, haven't dropped a road series since losing two of three against the Los Angeles Angels from May 23-25.
Duffy (5-7, 2.60 ERA) gives them a strong chance to get back on track after ranking third among AL starters with a 1.69 ERA over six June starts. The left-hander pitched particularly well on the road, going 3-1 with a 1.05 ERA in four outings.
"His last five, six, seven starts have been really, really good," manager Ned Yost told MLB's official website. "And that's a big enough sample to say this ain't no fluke."
Duffy allowed two hits over two innings in a relief appearance at Cleveland on April 22. He's given up six runs and 14 hits over 10 1-3 innings in two career starts against the Indians (42-44), though both outings came in his 2011 rookie season.
Kluber (7-6, 2.99) also has enjoyed a solid stretch, allowing just three runs over 20 2-3 innings over his last three starts. However, he's taken the loss in two of those outings while receiving no runs of support in either contest.
"That's part of the game," the right-hander said. "You sometimes run into a buzz saw and other guys have great games. You can't really second-guess or complain about that. You've just got to tip your hat to the other guys."
Kluber has yet to surrender an earned run over 16 2-3 innings in two career home starts against the Royals, going 2-0 while allowing seven hits with 19 strikeouts. But he wasn't as sharp in the last meeting in Kansas City on June 10, giving up a season-high six runs - three earned - over five innings in a 9-5 loss.
Mike Moustakas is 6 for 16 with three doubles when facing Kluber, while Omar Infante and Jarrod Dyson have both gone 5 for 14. Infante had two hits in his return after being a late scratch Friday because of tightness in his lower back.
Alcides Escobar has been one of the Royals' top hitters, batting .393 over an eight-game hitting streak. He ranked fourth in all of baseball with a .374 average in June.
The Indians seek their fourth win in five games after scoring at least five runs in each of their last three victories.
Michael Brantley is 5 for 9 in this series, leaving him with a .429 average over a 13-game hitting streak versus Kansas City. Lonnie Chisenhall, 9 for 22 against the Royals in 2014, is hitting .350 with nine homers and 36 RBIs since May 14.
Michael Bourn's status is uncertain after he left Saturday's game because of tightness in his left hamstring. The Indians' leadoff man had surgery on the hamstring in October and missed time earlier in the season with the injury.
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| | Last Updated: 4/18/2024 4:58:08 PM EST. |
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