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(Ed note: It’s my first Series Preview as I’m subbing in for OMD. Be kind)
When last we left our intrepid adventurers-- you know what? If I do some previews once the dark ages (re)start next year, these intros are totally going to be stories: Not just any stories but bad adventure stories about swashbuckling space (Pittsburgh) pirates and zombie robot dinosaurs (Tampa?), but stories nonetheless. But for 2017, there’s still a lot at stake for and little time for silliness.
It’s been a couple of months since the Royals last played the Indians. The schedule between the two teams has been oddly weighted this season: 3 series in May and early June, and now two at the end of August (18-20 @ KC, 25-27 @ Cle) with another September 14th-17th in Cleveland. And, despite the view that the Cleveland baseball club is far superior to the Kansas City squad, the Royals are up 5-4 so far in the season series.
The last time these two teams met in June, Cleveland was "underperforming" in the eyes of many, but still in first place. The Royals, meanwhile, had the worst record in the American League. Since then, the Royals have been the second best team in the league behind Boston and the Tribe are a half game worse. The Royals still trail Cleveland by 5.5 games going into this weekend, but with ten more head-to-head games, there is time to make up some ground.
Indians at Royals pitching matchups, game times, and winning percentages from 538 and Fangraphs.
- Friday, August 18, 7:15 PM CDT - Ian Kennedy versus Corey Kluber (39%/34%)
- Saturday, August 19, 6:15 PM CDT - Jason Vargas versus Trevor Bauer (48%/42%)
- Sunday, August 20, 1:15 PM CDT - Jason Hammel vs Danny Salazar (46%/39%)
NOTE: Sunday’s game will be the MLB.tv Free Game of the Day.
Here’s a closer look at those pitchers:
| Rk | Pos | Name | Age | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SP | Corey Kluber | 31 | 11 | 3 | .786 | 2.71 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 139.2 | 97 | 45 | 42 | 15 | 30 | 2 | 192 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 536 | 173 | 2.49 | 0.909 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 12.4 | 6.40 |
| 3 | SP | Trevor Bauer | 26 | 11 | 8 | .579 | 4.75 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 127.0 | 134 | 69 | 67 | 19 | 46 | 0 | 144 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 547 | 99 | 3.95 | 1.417 | 9.5 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 10.2 | 3.13 |
| 5 | SP | Danny Salazar | 27 | 5 | 5 | .500 | 3.92 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87.1 | 77 | 40 | 38 | 12 | 37 | 0 | 123 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 370 | 120 | 3.45 | 1.305 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 12.7 | 3.32 |
| Rk | Pos | Name | Age | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | BK | WP | BF | ERA+ | FIP | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SP | Jason Hammel | 34 | 5 | 9 | .357 | 4.74 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 136.2 | 147 | 74 | 72 | 18 | 39 | 2 | 109 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 600 | 96 | 4.29 | 1.361 | 9.7 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 7.2 | 2.79 |
| 2 | SP | Jason Vargas* | 34 | 14 | 6 | .700 | 3.45 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 135.2 | 134 | 53 | 52 | 18 | 39 | 2 | 102 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 565 | 132 | 4.31 | 1.275 | 8.9 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 6.8 | 2.62 |
| 4 | SP | Ian Kennedy | 32 | 4 | 8 | .333 | 4.80 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 120.0 | 101 | 69 | 64 | 22 | 47 | 1 | 104 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 498 | 95 | 5.06 | 1.233 | 7.6 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 7.8 | 2.21 |
Through some digital wizardry, Josh makes these look a lot better but I think it’s still pretty easy to see that the Royals could be in for a long series. Corey Kluber is having a potential Cy Young season, Trevor Bauer has a 1.88 ERA in his last 4 starts, and “Danny Salazar is back”. At least Kansas City will have a bullpen advanta—
I think it goes without saying that for the Royals to have much of a shot at the division, they need to take the series. The Royals are already down to 6% (538), 1.6% (FG), and 1.4% (MLB) to win the division. Let's hope this weekend keeps those 25%, 27%, and 24% playoff hopes alive.
Poll
How will the Royals fare against the Indians?
This poll is closed
-
18%
Royals sweep
(39 votes) -
39%
Royals take two of three
(84 votes) -
31%
Indians take two of three
(67 votes) -
11%
Indians sweep and Royals weep
(25 votes)
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