Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 (7:05 ET)
TV: STO (CLE), FSKC (KC)
Radio: WTAM (CLE), KCSP (KC)
Series Preview
We've been discussing Danny Salazar quite a bit lately, and tonight we'll get more fodder for arguments. Salazar's velocity is down several mph from the end of last year, and so he isn't getting as many whiffs as he did. The league also has more video on him, so that has to be working against him as well. The rest of baseball has made their adjustments, and now it's time for Salazar to make his.
The Royals on paper seem to be an ideal team for Salazar to face. They don't hit many home runs, which should help Salazar, who has give up four dingers in three starts.
Pitching for the Royals is James Shields, who, given the scheduling luck the Indians usually have, is making his first of six starts against the Indians. Shields is a free agent at year's end, and if he has a typical season, will be getting a massive contract from somebody this winter.
Tonight Lonnie Chisenhall has been moved back to the bottom of the order, probably because Terry Francona doesn't like to shift everybody in the lineup if he can help it.
Today's other AL Central games:
White Sox (Leesman) at Tigers (Verlander), 7:08 PM
Twins (Gibson) at Rays (Price), 7:10 PM
Today's Indians minor-league affiliate games:
AAA: Gwinnet at Columbus, 6:35 PM (Trevor Bauer)
AA: Akron at Trenton, 7:05 PM (Joseph Colon)
A-: Lake County at Lansing, 7:05 PM (Caleb Hamrick)