The Royals and Indians will take the field tonight for game two of their three game set in Cleveland. The Tribe won last night and are expected to take this evening's game with ace Cliff Lee on the mound. Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Indians Free MLB Picks at Sportsbook.com have the Indians listed as a -185 moneyline favorite.
Cleveland led 6-1 after four innings of play last night and looked to have things in control after abusing an overmatched Sidney Ponson. The Indians chased the 32 year old hurler in the fourth inning having already tagged him for eight hits and six earned runs. However, despite grounding into a double play for a franchise record six consecutive innings, the Royals found their way back into the game by scoring four runs in the top of the eighth.
The Indians scored two more runs on a Victor Martinez home run in the bottom of the eighth off of reliever Juan Cruz. The eight runs were enough to hold off another KC charge in the ninth as they plated two runners against Kerry Wood.
Cleveland is now 5-9 and still in last place in the AL Central. Kansas City maintained their three way tie for first at 7-6 after both the White Sox and Tigers fell yesterday as well.
2008 Cy Young winner, Cliff Lee, will take the hill tonight for the Tribe. Lee got banged around in his first two starts the season, working just 10 innings and giving up 17 hits and 11 earned runs in losses to the Rangers and Blue Jays. But the 30 year old southpaw rebounded in his last outing, getting a 10-2 win versus the Yankees in New York. The Arkansas native went six innings and gave up just one earned run in the victory. He is now 1-2 on the year with a 6.75 ERA.
Lee owned the Royals last season, winning all five of his starts against them. He worked a total of 37.2 innings against KC in 2008 and yielded 37 hits and 11 earned runs in that span.
The Royals will send righty Brian Bannister to the mound tonight, it will be his first big league start this year as he was recalled from triple A Omaha just two days ago. Bannister went 9-16 in 32 starts with a 5.76 ERA last year. The 28 year old had good success against Cleveland in 2008, going 2-1 against them and producing a stellar 2.70 ERA. He went 1-0 at Progressive Field, working six innings and giving up three earned runs in a 13-3 KC win.
The Indians are 5-5 versus Kansas City in their last 10 games against them at Progressive Field. The two squads have split their four games this season.
Sportsbook.com Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Indians Free MLB Picks:
Kansas City Royals +165 (Moneyline), Over 9.5 (-115)
Cleveland Indians -185 (Moneyline), Under 9.5 (-105)
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