Indians Thursday Game Thread: Zach McAllister to start vs. Royals

The Indians host the Royals at Goodyear Ballpark in this afternoon's game, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 ET. The game will be televised on STO in the Cleveland area, and is also available on MLB.TV.

Zach McAllister will start for the Tribe, and is scheduled to throw 4 innings. He is also now lined up to start the third game of the regular season (after Justin Masterson and Corey Kluber start the first two). He'll be followed this afternoon by Bryan Price, Scott Atchison, Vinnie Pestano, Blake Wood, and Preston Guilmet. Pestano has looked very good this spring, and is close to a lock for a spot in the bullpen, while the other four are all fighting to make the roster.

Today's starting lineup:

1) Michael Bourn (CF)

2) Nick Swisher (1B)

3) Jason Kipnis (2B)

4) Carlos Santana (3B)

5) Michael Brantley (LF)

6) David Murphy (DH)

7) Jeff Francoeur (RF)

8) Justin Sellers (SS)

9) Matt Treanor (C)

This is the first time Santana has started at third base on back-to-back days. Whether that has anything to do with him making a couple of very nice plays there yesterday afternoon or not, I cannot say. Lonnie Chisenhall is having a good spring, and I'm 99% sure he'll be the team's primary third baseman when the season begins, but it's clear management is serious about giving Santana a real chance at making himself a viable option there.

Also, Jason Giambi is out for the rest of spring training, and at least the start of the regular season.

Also-also, we've got a nice excerpt from a new book on the Indians dynasty of the 1990s.