Cleveland Indians: Previewing the weekend series against the Royals

Probable pitchers

RHP Jason Hammel (KC) vs RHP Trevor Bauer (CLE)

Jason Hammel pitched six scoreless innings in his last start against the Tribe. You may remember that game better as the Yan Gomes walk-off game. Now Hammel has lost three in a row and is plummeting. In one of those losses he got absolutely smoked by the Red Sox, allowing eight runs over 4.2 innings.

As for Trevor Bauer, he pitched well in his last start against the Yankees. After his team took the lead in the sixth, he allowed the Yankees to come right back, although some of that can be attributed to two Francisco Lindor errors on one play. In his last start against KC he allowed the lone run that lost the Indians game, but still pitched eight innings with only three hits.

RHP Jakob Junis (KC) vs RHP Mike Clevinger (CLE)

This will be the first start against the Indians for Jakob Junis. The Royals won his last start where he worked seven innings against the Tigers, allowing only two runs. He’s arguably been the Royals’ best pitcher this season with a 3.18 ERA. Overall he’s 4-2 on the year and while he has been their best pitcher, that’s not saying much considering how abysmal the Royals staff has been.

Mike Clevinger had another outstanding outing against the Yankees on Sunday. He struck out 10 over 7.1 innings with only one hit. Unfortunately, the Indians left him out a little two long and he allowed two runs after being pulled. We will try not the remember what happened after that. Clevinger has beaten the Royals once this year, he will look to rebound after a tough team loss and do so again.

LHP Danny Duffy (KC) vs RHP Corey Kluber (CLE)

Danny Duffy got his first win of the year in that game where the Royals scored 10 runs in the first inning! You would think that would make for an easy win, but the Royals still allowed seven runs in that game. Overall Duffy is a miserable 2-7 over 16 games against the Tribe.

Corey Kluber lost his second game of the year in his last start in a 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. The defending Cy Young winner has allowed ten home runs this year, one of those to a pitcher. It’s certainly not what we expected from Kluber, but regardless he it still pitching like one of the best pitchers in baseball. Expect nothing short of a return to form against the Royals whom he’ll be facing for the first time this year.