***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

[cmh6476]

yay lew u go gurl

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

yay lew u go gurl

Thanks baby doll!

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

Depends on the prospect.

I doubt he would fetch what Soria did.

[KChiefs1]

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

Depends on the prospect.

He wouldn't bring back a damn thing. But, he's pitching lights out for us this year which is all I care about

[TomBarndtsTwin]

If Madson continues to pitch the way he has, he could certainly bring a solid prospect near the trade deadline.

That being said, you're the Royals, the defending AL Champs and you're now competing for championships. No reason to trade him. With a bullpen of Hoch, Madson, Frasor, Herrera, Davis & Holland, the opposition literally has almost zero chance from inning 6 on. All your starters have to do is give you 5 solid innings and then you can put it on cruise control.

Takes so much pressure off the starters. What a luxury to have.

[Chromatic]

Thug life.

http://gfycat.com/NauticalSomeGrasshopper

[Great Expectations]

Yes, but the Royals are going to have to rely on their farm system to sustain success. If you have a plethora of relief guys and an opportunity for continued success I think you take that opportunity. I wouldn't advocate to trade anyone close to a core player. If you have excess pieces you have to consider it.

[tomahawk kid]

Jon Lovitz pitched a helluva game last night, outside of that two run bomb.

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by ROYC75

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.

Thank the lord he's smarter than Ned Foxworthy.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Chromatic

Thug life.

http://gfycat.com/NauticalSomeGrasshopper

Gawdamnit, that is just ****ing filthy

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by Chromatic

Thug life.

http://gfycat.com/NauticalSomeGrasshopper

That's just beautiful man

[Dartgod]

Wade Davis. Throwing middle fingers.

[kcfanXIII]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Gawdamnit, that is just ****ing filthy

And then turns his back before the call as if to say, "We all know you aren't hitting that..."

[Mother****erJones]

How many fans were there? I know why fans don't come to CWS games. We haven't been good for years. But the Indians have had some good teams and have less fans go to games than us.