Tonight Justin Masterson takes on Jason Vargas as the Indians try to bounce back from a rather ugly game last night.  After two rough starts in a row, Masterson looked better against the Blue Jays last Friday night.  Vargas, someone I would typically consider a decent but not spectacular starter, is off to a hot start in 2014 – he’s 2-0 with a 1.24 ERA.  He has pitched at least seven innings in all four of his starts so far, and he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of them.  In fact, here’s an odd fact – all four earned runs that Vargas has allowed so far this season have come via the home run ball.  Two solo shots, and one two-run homer…that’s it.  Unless he starts to come back down to earth a bit (which I think he will, eventually) this slumping offense could have some problems.  Francona has obviously tried to combat Vargas with as many right-handed bats as possible; we’ll see if that helps.

The Indians have fairly decent career numbers against Vargas, but they haven’t seen him since 2012 when he was with Seattle (he spent 2013 in the NL).  Masterson had a fairly tough time with the Royals last season – he was 1-1 with a 6.39 ERA and Kansas City hitters batted .327/.393/.436 against him.  I’m once again a bit nervous about tonight’s game.  Masterson has been shaky so far this season, and he had a fair amount of problems with the Royals last year when he was having a decent season.  Vargas is on a hot streak, against an offense that’s on a cold streak.  Let’s hope I’m wrong and things end up going the Indians’ way.

Lineups:

Indians:

Michael Bourn, CF

Nick Swisher, 1B

Jason Kipnis, 2B

Carlos Santana, DH

Ryan Raburn, RF

Michael Brantley, LF

Asdrubal Cabrera, SS

Yan Gomes, C

Mike Aviles, 3B

 

Royals:

Nori Aoki, RF

Omar Infante, 2B

Eric Hosmer, 1B

Billy Butler, DH

Alex Gordon, LF

Salvador Perez, C

Mike Moustakas, 3B

Alcides Escobar, SS

Jarrod Dyson, CF

10 Comments

  • The Doctor says:

    sigh. i want to keep complaining about this lineup construction, but what’s the point when i’m just going to have to complain about it again tomorrow? francona is asleep at the wheel.

  • Ghost of Joel Skinner says:

    LET’S GIVE MASTERSON $17M….HE’S THE BEST EVER – IF HE ONLY GOT RUN SUPPORT!!

    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! WAAAAAAH!!! W AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! HE SAAAAIIIID HE WANTS TO STAY HERE! OMG – STAY HERE! GET A KLEENEX!

    HE’S OUR AAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE..

  • Gvl Steve says:

    A quality start for Masterson but only so-so. Still winless on the year. Won’t get a big contract that way. Nice to see the top of the order hitting.

  • D.P. Roberts says:

    Axford is being all dramatic again.

  • D.P. Roberts says:

    Hey, the top of the lineup got 6 hits and 3 RBI, they scored a respectable amount of runs – and look, they actually won the game! Whodathunkit?

  • The Doctor says:

    only bourn could find a way to make a 3-5 with 2 rbis look bad. A win is a win, though!

    • Sean Porter says:

      Sweet 8 lb, 6 oz baby Jesus, you are possibly the most negative person in the history of this planet.

      • The Doctor says:

        I think ghost of Joel Skinner has me beat. But really, 2 awful looking strikeouts and 2 outs on the bases? that’s intolerable from your leadoff hitter.

        • Sean Porter says:

          He’s a 15 year old troll, I don’t even consider him in the equation.

          There’s nothing wrong with pointing out the Indians weak spots/poor performances, we all do it, but man, its all you do. Unlike Ghost, who apparently hasn’t hit puberty yet, you are better than this.

      • shaun says:

        i know but its his schtick! he’s like a lovable barfly…