It’s a battle of AL Central foes on the diamond in the Midwest. The Cleveland Guardians are on the road as they open up a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals Monday night. Cleveland closed a three-game series on the road with the Mariners Sunday trying to avoid a sweep as they were beaten 4-0 Saturday. Kansas City won the rubber game of their three-game set with the Tigers on the road, winning 3-2 Sunday afternoon. In the season series, the Guardians own a 6-4 advantage though the Royals took two of three at home in the most recent series between the teams July 8-10. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the Guardians’ finale Sunday, which had a lengthy rain delay.
Cleveland dropped their fourth straight game Saturday as they were knocked off by the Mariners again. The Guardians entered Sunday night with a half-game advantage over the Twins for the top spot in the AL Central, though a loss in that game with the Mariners would leave the teams even in the standings. On Saturday, Cleveland banged out nine hits with Steven Kwan and Owen Miller each recording two in the loss. The Guardians were a dismal zero for seven with runners in scoring position in the contest. Xzavion Curry (0-1) took the loss on the mound as he threw 4.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with five walks and no strikeouts before departing.
Triston McKenzie is on the hill for the Guardians as he logs his 26th appearance and 25th start of the season in this contest. He comes in 9-11 with a 3.18 ERA, a 0.969 WHIP, 39 walks and 149 strikeouts over 152.2 innings of work on the year. McKenzie took the loss in his last start, which came against the Orioles at home Wednesday. He threw five innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in a 4-0 Guardians defeat. In his last three starts, McKenzie is 1-2 with a 3.50 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, four walks and 25 strikeouts over 18 innings of work. McKenzie makes his 10th career appearance and eighth start against the Royals in this contest. He is 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, 19 walks and 47 strikeouts over 46 innings of work. McKenzie is 4-1 with a 1.04 ERA, a 0.923 WHIP, 12 walks and 22 strikeouts over 26 innings of work in five career appearances, four starts, at Kauffman Stadium.