It would be helpful for the Indians if shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera could be in the lineup Sunday against the Royals. According to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian, the injury to Cabrera's left knee isn't serious and Cabrera plans to be back today.
Manager Manny Acta also seems optimistic.
"He's limping around a little bit," Acta said. "So, I think it would've been too much to put him out there the way he is right now. But I'm very confident that he'll be able to play [on Sunday]."
One thing is certain. The Tribe needs Cabrera, as was evidenced on Saturday when the team managed only three hits against Luke Hochevar and Greg Holland and lost 5-1 to fall 6.5 games behind the Tigers, with a huge series starting vs. Detroit on Monday in Cleveland.
Another thing that is certain is that the Indians could use another good outing from Jeanmar Gomez.
Jeanmar held Oakland to one unearned run in his last start on Tuesday, working six innings and allowing six hits in a game won by the Tribe 6-2.
Gomez has faced the Royals once this year, and was the losing pitcher on April 19 in Kansas City when he went 4.1 frames and surrendered nine hits and five runs.
For his career Jeanmar is 1-2 vs, Kansas City in four starts.
The Royals will send Jeff Francis on Sunday in the last meeting of the season between these two clubs. Francis (5-14, 4.64 ERA) was terrific the last time he faced Cleveland, going eight shutout innings and allowing only four hits in a 12-0 Royals win back on July 29 in Cleveland. That win improved Francis to 2-2 in his career vs. the Indians.
Cleveland leads the season-series 11-6, but the Royals have held their own, splitting the last eight games with the Tribe.
Tomorrow will take care of tomorrow. Let's get this one today, and maybe (hopefully) the White Sox can do us a favor on Sunday and bounce back themselves against the Tigers.