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Although the Tribe is officially still alive for the playoffs, the likelihood would require some fantastic scenario. The Indians will finish off their season series with the Royals in Kansas City with little to play for but pride.
- Friday 8:10 PM: Carlos Carrasco (R) vs. Edinson Volquez (R)
- Saturday 7:10 PM: Josh Tomlin (R) vs. Kris Medlen (R)
- Sunday 2:10 PM: Danny Salazar (R) vs. Jeremy Guthrie (R)
The Upcoming Schedule: The 2015 season concludes with four home games with the Minnesota Twins and three with the Boston Red Sox.
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Editor's Note: SB Nation's partner FanDuel is running a $1,000,000 fantasy football league for week 1. It's $5 to enter and first place wins $100,000. Click here to join.
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Playoff Watch: Rays at Blue Jays, Rangers at Astros, White Sox at Yankees, Twins at Tigers, Mariners at Angels.
Team in a Box
|
Kansas City Royals |
Offense |
AL Rank |
Pitching |
AL Rank |
|||
|
2015 Record |
89-63 |
Runs/Game |
4.5 |
5th |
Runs/Game |
4.0 |
3rd |
|
AL Central |
1st |
OBP |
324 |
6th |
H/9 |
8.6 |
6th |
|
Last 10 |
5-5 |
SLG |
417 |
6th |
BB/9 |
3.0 |
12th |
|
Last 30 |
15-15 |
Steals |
99 |
2nd |
SO/9 |
7.1 |
11th |
These teams just split a four game set in Cleveland a week ago. The Royals took two of three in late April in Cleveland, then two of three in KC the week after. In early June, the Tribe did manage to take two of three in KC but then lost two of three again in late June.
The Royals lost two of three to the Tigers and just took two of three against the Mariners to clinch their first division title since 1985.
Projected Roster
|
Pos |
Player |
Bats |
PA |
BA |
OPS |
wRC+ |
|
C |
Salvador Perez |
R |
522 |
258 |
704 |
87 |
|
1B |
Eric Hosmer |
L |
627 |
304 |
826 |
126 |
|
2B |
Ben Zobrist # |
S |
493 |
285 |
836 |
132 |
|
3B |
Mike Moustakas |
L |
577 |
282 |
814 |
123 |
|
SS |
Alcides Escobar |
R |
574 |
256 |
612 |
67 |
|
LF |
Alex Gordon |
L |
325 |
274 |
814 |
125 |
|
CF |
Lorenzo Cain |
R |
527 |
307 |
845 |
131 |
|
RF |
Alex Rios |
R |
353 |
269 |
674 |
82 |
|
DH |
Kendrys Morales |
S |
619 |
291 |
840 |
129 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2B |
Omar Infante |
R |
455 |
220 |
552 |
44 |
|
OF |
Paulo Orlando |
R |
238 |
250 |
727 |
94 |
|
OF |
Jerrod Dyson |
L |
208 |
250 |
692 |
90 |
|
IF |
Christian Colon |
R |
106 |
299 |
703 |
97 |
|
C |
Drew Butera |
R |
90 |
215 |
562 |
55 |
|
IF |
Cheslor Cuthbert |
R |
44 |
250 |
743 |
103 |
|
OF |
Jonny Gomes ## |
R |
249 |
216 |
678 |
89 |
|
OF |
Terrance Gore |
R |
4 |
000 |
250 |
4 |
|
C |
Francisco Pena |
R |
3 |
000 |
000 |
-100 |
# includes stats with A's; ## includes stats with Braves
Now that the Royals have clinched the division, I suspect quite a few bench players will get some playing time, especially as a few guys are nicked up. But they are also still fighting for home field advantage as well.
Projected Staff
|
Player |
Throws |
ERA |
FIP |
IP |
WHIP |
K/9 |
|
Edinson Volquez |
R |
3.62 |
3.82 |
186.1 |
1.31 |
6.8 |
|
Yordano Ventura |
R |
4.40 |
3.77 |
149.1 |
1.35 |
8.4 |
|
Jeremy Guthrie |
R |
5.95 |
5.67 |
146.2 |
4.56 |
5.0 |
|
Danny Duffy |
L |
4.22 |
4.53 |
132.1 |
1.41 |
6.5 |
|
Johnny Cueto # |
R |
3.45 |
3.46 |
201.0 |
1.10 |
7.6 |
|
Kris Medlen |
R |
3.51 |
4.15 |
48.2 |
1.17 |
5.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wade Davis |
R |
0.99 |
2.44 |
63.2 |
0.82 |
10.2 |
|
Kelvin Herrera |
R |
2.74 |
3.43 |
65.2 |
1.10 |
8.5 |
|
Franklin Morales |
L |
2.85 |
3.31 |
60.0 |
1.07 |
6.0 |
|
Ryan Madson |
R |
2.28 |
3.18 |
59.1 |
0.94 |
8.2 |
|
Chris Young |
R |
3.29 |
4.71 |
112.0 |
1.13 |
6.1 |
|
Luke Hochevar |
R |
3.57 |
3.96 |
45.1 |
1.32 |
9.1 |
|
Miguel Almonte |
R |
6.75 |
9.59 |
6.2 |
1.95 |
13.5 |
|
Scott Alexander |
L |
3.60 |
3.14 |
5.0 |
1.00 |
5.4 |
|
Joba Chamberlain ## |
R |
4.91 |
5.75 |
25.2 |
1.75 |
6.7 |
|
Michael Mariot |
R |
3.00 |
8.81 |
3.0 |
1.33 |
3.0 |
|
Louis Coleman |
R |
0.00 |
4.86 |
2.1 |
1.29 |
3.9 |
# includes stats with Reds; ## includes stats with Tigers
The matchups are identical to the previous series with the exception of Guthrie getting Duffy's start. And they may change now that the Royals have clinched.
It was also announced last night that closer Greg Holland is done for the season with a torn UCL.
On the Shelf
- RP Tim Collins [60 day DL], out for season
- SP Jason Vargas [60 day DL], out for season and 2016
- P Brian Flynn [60 day DL], no timetable for return
- CL Greg Holland [day to day], out for season
- 2B Omar Infante [day to day], left oblique strain
- C Salvador Perez [day to day], left lateral knee contusion
Almanac
|
W |
L |
Pct |
RS |
RA |
Pythag |
|
|
2015 |
7 |
9 |
438 |
75 |
70 |
532 |
|
2014 |
10 |
9 |
526 |
74 |
76 |
488 |
|
Last 5* |
50 |
42 |
543 |
474 |
411 |
565 |
|
Last 10* |
104 |
79 |
568 |
965 |
810 |
579 |
|
All-Time |
330 |
315 |
512 |
3005 |
2794 |
533 |
*Does not include 2015 stats
Prediction: I have none for this series.