The Royals are the hottest team you forgot about. They've reeled off 5 straight, Michael Massey went yard for the go-ahead 2-run shot in the series opener, and Lucas Erceg keeps slamming the door — that's 3 saves in his last 4 appearances. They're 17-19 and somehow only 1 game back of these Guardians in the standings.
Cleveland comes in stumbling — losers of 3 straight after starting the week with back-to-back wins. The lineup needs to wake up against Cole Ragans, who is a walking coin flip right now. Last time out he punched out 11 Angels in 6 innings on a tied-career-high 27 whiffs. The start before that? 4 earned, 3 walks, three home runs surrendered to the Mariners. Same guy. Different planets.
The Guardians counter with Joey Cantillo, who's been quietly fine on the surface (3.67 ERA) but got knocked around in his last outing — 4 innings, 4 earned, 3 walks against the A's on May 1. Walking guys against a Royals club that's actually stringing at-bats together right now is the express lane to a short night.
The market has Kansas City as a -132 home favorite with the run line at -1.5, and the public is leaning home on the moneyline. The total sits at 7.5 with sharp money and 88% of the handle hammering the under — makes sense given Cantillo's command issues mean traffic, but Ragans on the wrong night could blow that number up by himself.
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez is making progress but is still in the midst of a rehab program after suffering fractures to his left arm and right leg during a Jan. 11 car accident in Venezuela, SI.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILGabriel Arias SS — no
- 15-Day-ILShawn Armstrong RP — Armstrong struck out one over a scoreless inning to pick up a hold in Friday's 4-1 win over the Cubs.
- 15-Day-ILAndrew Walters RP — Walters (lat) struck out the side in the eighth inning Friday for Triple-A Columbus.
- Day-To-DayCole Ragans SP — Ragans allowed four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out eight over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday.
- Day-To-DayNoah Cameron SP — Cameron (back) said he could have pitched through the back tightness that resulted in him being scratched from his scheduled start against the Guardians on Tuesday, with manager Matt Quatraro adding that the left-hander should be ready to rejoin the rotation after missing just one start, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayTyson Guerrero RP
- Day-To-DayAnthony Simonelli SP — no
- Day-To-DayJavier Vaz 2B — no
- 10-Day-ILJonathan India 2B — The Royals announced Tuesday that India underwent season-ending surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder.
- 15-Day-ILCarlos Estevez RP — Estevez (foot) was removed from his rehab appearance at Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday due to shoulder discomfort, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBailey Falter RP — Falter (elbow) allowed no hits or walks with two strikeouts across 1.1 scoreless innings with Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
Health-wise, the Royals are still playing without Jonathan India for the year after labrum surgery, and the bullpen is missing Carlos Estevez (rehabbing in Triple-A) and Bailey Falter. Cleveland's biggest hole remains Gabriel Arias at short. Noah Cameron's back tightness was scary on Tuesday but Quatraro says he should only miss the one start, so it's not bleeding into this one.
Pick your poison. Royals are playing their best baseball of the year, the bullpen is rolling, and Cantillo just got smacked around. The catch is Ragans — when he's bad, he's giving up multiple homers and the under dies in a hurry. Lean Royals, sweat the total.