***Official KC Royals vs Cleveland Indians--April 27, 2015***

[lewdog]

Spoiler!

For all of the well-documented success the Kansas City Royals had a season ago, they struggled with Corey Kluber as much or more than anyone.

The reigning AL Cy Young winner will try to kick his 2015 campaign into similar gear and jump-start a struggling rotation Monday night when the Cleveland Indians welcome the Royals for a three-game series.

Kluber (0-2, 3.90 ERA) went 2-1 with a 1.15 ERA in four 2014 starts against the Royals and went at least 8 1/3 innings in three.

This season, Kluber was strong for his first three starts before allowing six runs and 13 hits in six-plus innings of Wednesday's 6-0 road loss to the Chicago White Sox. The Indians have lost in all four of his starts while providing him with a 1.63 run-support average.

"It's a hard way to pitch when we're throwing up zeroes as an offense," manager Terry Francona told MLB's official website. "I think he probably feels like he has to be perfect, and that's a hard way to pitch."

Kansas City's main struggles against the right-hander have come from Salvador Perez (2 for 16), Lorenzo Cain (2 for 15) and Alcides Escobar (5 for 25 with 10 strikeouts). Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon are both 4 for 25 with a combined 16 strikeouts but have each homered twice against Kluber. Mike Moustakas is 8 for 21 with a home run and four doubles.

Run support hasn't been a problem for Jason Vargas, but the Kansas City left-hander hasn't been able to quiet opposing lineups. Vargas (1-1, 6.75) allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of Tuesday's 6-5 home win over Minnesota and didn't earn the decision. He's received a 5.52 runs of support while allowing a .348 opponent batting average in three starts.

Vargas was lucky enough to catch Kluber in the one meeting last year in which the Royals managed more than a run, but he was 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA in four starts against the Indians.

The Royals (12-6) are in danger of dropping three straight for the first time since the end of August after losing two of three to the White Sox. Sunday's 5-3 defeat came after taking a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning. It followed the completion of Friday's suspended game, in which the Royals fell 3-2.

Kansas City was hitting a major league-best .310 through 14 games but has fallen off with a .243 mark with eight runs in its last four. That lineup could at some point be without Cain, one of four Royals suspended after Thursday's brawl with Chicago, but the outfielder is appealing.

"You have to pay the consequences. We'll see what happens," Cain said. "I appealed it, but we'll see what happens."

The Indians (6-11) haven't won a series since opening the season by taking two of three in Houston. They've gone 4-10 since with a 5.43 ERA from the starting rotation after Sunday's 8-6 loss in Detroit. At home, they're 1-4 with an 8.66 mark from their starters.

The series loss to the Tigers came despite scoring 20 runs in three games, but the positive is some of the key parts of the lineup are coming around. Michael Brantley was 8 for 13 and hit .405 against Kansas City a season ago. Carlos Santana was 4 for 9 with four walks and is batting .361 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs in his last 16 games against the Royals.

The Indians have won 12 of the last 18 meetings in Cleveland.

KC Royals 12-6
Cleveland Indians 6-11

KC: Vargas (1-1 , 6.75 ERA) CLE: Kluber (0-2 , 3.90 ERA)

KC LEADERS:
BA: Cain .388
HR: Perez 3
RBI: Perez 12

Indians LEADERS
BA: Santana .250
HR: Santana 3
RBI: Santana 11

[Snapplez]

The stream I was watchin was of the Indians announcers. They made sure to bring up that the Royals and Indians weren't all that far off from each other defensively. Love that they mentioned that as error after error piled up and we dominated.

[GloryDayz]

Yay us...

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by lewdog

It's been really impressive. He's doing opposite field consistently. No idea how a player can change that much in hitting from last year to this year but it's a whole different approach. Let's hope it stays.

I heard that in HS & college, he used all fields often. That he didn't start to becoming a pull hitter until the HR numbers were rolling in his head by management. He started using it some in the playoffs and went home in the off season worked on it himself. He hit the batting cages and worked on his mechanics of hands behind the ball and came to ST and told Ned & Dave he wanted to use all fields again, not just a pull hitter.

I'm impressed with his work ethic and the ability in one off season to go back to basics so quick, his plate discipline is great.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Signature updated.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Snapplez

The stream I was watchin was of the Indians announcers. They made sure to bring up that the Royals and Indians weren't all that far off from each other defensively. Love that they mentioned that as error after error piled up and we dominated.

What a foolish statement if they really said something that dumb

[Saul Good]

2 runs on four hits for the Indians...still 10 pages of Pete bitching about Vargas while he got the win against the reigning Cy Young winner.

[KChiefs1]

Detroit up 5-3

[okcchief]

2-2 on this road trip seems a little better beating Kluber and Sale. Those other 2 games they just let get away.

[KChiefs1]

Detroit up 5-4

[KChiefs1]

Soria in to close.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by RollChiefsRoll

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ryan Madsen is the ****ing man.

I really dont want to trade him for a prospect.

[CaliforniaChief]

I enjoyed reading, for the second straight week, a Fantasy-geared article suggesting that owners should sit Moose because he's not going to have a good week hitting.

To quote Josh Vernier,

#middlefingers all around.

[Great Expectations]

Twins lose

[Great Expectations]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I really dont want to trade him for a prospect.

Depends on the prospect.

[KChiefs1]

Tigers win.