The Indians scored early and often last night against the Kansas City Royals. Carlos Carrasco is hoping that the offense can keep it going tonight at 8:10 when Carrasco takes on Sean O'Sullivan in the finale of this short, two-game series in Kansas City.
Carrasco (1-2, 5.29 ERA) was the losing pitcher in his last outing, going five innings against Tampa Bay last Wednesday and allowing four runs on six hits, with three walks and two K's in the game which saw the Indians' home winning streak end at 14 straight wins.
This will be Carrasco's second appearance of the year in Kansas City. On April 18 he got no decision in a 7-3 Cleveland win, going 6.1 innings and surrendering three runs on seven hits. For his career Carrasco is 1-1 against the Royals in 18.1 innings, with an ERA of 4.91.
The Royals -- who have dipped to .500 at 20-20 on the heels of three straight losses -- will send Sean O'Sullivan to face the Indians. O'Sullivan will be making his second appearance of the year against Cleveland, after going six innings and giving up two runs on April 21, in a game won by the Royals 3-2, but in which O'Sullivan received no decision.
O'Sullivan is 1-1 vs. the Indians in his career in 16 innings of work, with a 5.05 ERA, and for his career overall is 10-10 with a 5.26 ERA.
O'Sullivan has been better than his career number in 2011 however, going 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA so far this season.
After tonight's game the Indians will head for Chicago for another two-game series, this time against the Chicago White Sox, before they return home on Friday night to take on their downstate rivals -- the Cincinnati Reds, who are first in the NL Central -- in a weekend series at Progressive Field.