Tribe Favored
The Cleveland Indians won’t possess a second straight AL Central title at the end of this season. What they may have, however, is a second consecutive Cy Young Award winner.
Cliff Lee will look to win his seventh straight decision and continue his unexpectedly brilliant season when the Indians go for a three-game sweep of the visiting Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Cleveland -191 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 7.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 84% of bets for this game have been placed on Cleveland -191 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
While many of the Indians’ major pieces from their 2007 run to the ALCS have struggled, gotten hurt or been traded, Lee (17-2, 2.43 ERA) has turned in a career year, claiming nearly 30 percent of Cleveland’s 58 victories. He leads the AL in wins, winning percentage and ERA, and has allowed two or fewer runs in 18 of his 24 starts.
He’s 6-0 with a 2.42 ERA in his last seven starts, and is coming off his third complete game, as he scattered eight hits in a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.
After that game, Indians manager Eric Wedge was asked about Lee’s credentials for the Cy Young, which was won by former Cleveland left-hander CC Sabathia last season.
"It’s too early to think of those things, but Cliff has had as good a year as anybody," Wedge said. "He’s never wavered."
The southpaw’s only shutout of the year was a three-hitter against the Royals on April 24, when he struck out nine and walked none in a 2-0 win. He beat Kansas City again on May 30, moving to 9-4 with a 4.88 ERA in his career against his AL Central rivals.
Both of Lee’s losses this year have come in day games, but he still has a 2.44 ERA in six afternoon starts. He’s unbeaten at Progressive Field in 2008, having gone 7-0 with a 2.38 ERA in 10 starts.
The Indians (58-67) are going for their first home sweep of an opponent since winning four straight against Tampa Bay immediately before the All-Star break. Since the beginning of that series, Cleveland is 21-14 overall.
After a 9-4 win in this series opener on Tuesday, the Indians erased a two-run deficit with a five-run eighth inning in Wednesday’s 8-5 victory.
"Any time you snap one away late like that, it feels good," Wedge said.
Catcher Kelly Shoppach homered twice Wednesday, but it was Franklin Gutierrez’s three-run shot off Royals closer Joakim Soria that put Cleveland ahead. Gutierrez is 6-for-12 with six RBIs in his last three games.
"I’ve made some adjustments and am playing with more confidence," Gutierrez said. "… This game felt good. It gives me more positive thinking."
Kansas City (55-71) has dropped four straight and 11 of 13, falling behind the Indians into last place in the Central – where the Royals have finished each of the last four years.
Zack Greinke will be on the hill Thursday for his third shot at his 10th victory. The right-hander allowed two unearned runs in 6 2-3 innings of the Royals’ 3-2, 13-inning loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday.
Greinke (9-8, 3.92) is just 2-4 in his last nine starts, having allowed at least five runs four times over that span. He’ll bring a 3-6 record and 4.14 career ERA against Cleveland into his first 2008 outing against the Indians.
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