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Series Preview: Cleveland Indians set for four-game series with Royals

By Aaron Gershon

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 05: Cesar Hernandez #7 of the Cleveland Indians is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single during the ninth inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers at Progressive Field on September 05, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Brewers 4-3. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 05: Cesar Hernandez #7 of the Cleveland Indians is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single during the ninth inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers at Progressive Field on September 05, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Brewers 4-3. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 01: Starting pitcher Zach Plesac #34 of the Cleveland Indians pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 01, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 01: Starting pitcher Zach Plesac #34 of the Cleveland Indians pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 01, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Monday Sept. 7, 6:10 p.m. EST

Probable Starters: Brad Keller (3-1, 1.93 ERA) vs. Zach Plesac (2-1, 1.33 ERA)

Zach Plesac will draw his second start since returning from the teams’ alternate site in the series opener Monday.

Plesac pitched against the Royals in his return to the rotation on Sept. 1 and tossed six innings, allowed four hits, one run and struck out six as he earned his second win of the season.

The lone Kansas City runoff Plesac came via Hunter Dozier, who hit a solo home run. He became just the second current Royal to take the Indians right-hander deep, joining Jorge Soler, who holds a career .273 average in 11 at-bats head-to-head against Plesac.

Both Nicky Lopez and Cam Gallagher have also had success against Plesac as Gallagher is batting .500 in three at-bats while Lopez is batting .400 in five at-bats.

As for the Royals, they’ll send their ace Brad Keller to the mound. Keller dominated the Royals on Aug. 31 as he tossed 6.1 innings, allowed just one run and struck out four. He did not earn a decision despite the tremendous start, but Kansas City would go onto win the game.

Not many Indians have had much success against the Royals right-hander outside of Jose Ramirez, who is batting .300 in 10 at-bats off Keller while the lone active Cleveland batter that has taken him deep is Tyler Naquin.

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