The Cleveland Indians will try to bounce back from a difficult 7-0 loss on Saturday and a win Sunday would be the exclamation point of what would be a stellar 6-game homestand.  After sweeping Detroit in the 3-game series earlier this week, the Tribe has an opportunity to win the rubber game of this key 3-game set with the World Series Champion Royals and continue their early season success against division opponents.

The Wahoos boast an impressive 9-4 record against the AL Central so far and look to continue that momentum on Sunday.  The task will not be easy, as the Tribe will face Royals ace Edison Volquez (3-2, 3.13).  The Indians will send Josh Tomlin (4-0, 3.13) to the hill, as the Little Cowboy looks to continue his early season mastery, coming off two stellar wins against the Detroit Tigers.

Let’s take a look at some keys heading into Sunday’s rubber game:

*Tito Francona continues to juggle his lineup…Carlos Santana will lead off, while Lonnie Chisenhall will make his first career start in center field.  The Indians talked about Chisenhall getting time in center during Spring Training and now it is going to happen.

*The Indians must get production from their key offseason signings of Marlon Byrd and Juan Uribe, who anchor the bottom two spots in today’s lineup.  The veteran leadership those two players provide is important in the club house, but their production at the plate–and defensively, where both have struggled so far in 2016–will be key if the Tribe is to continue to win.

*The Tribe must get more production from key offseason signings Marlon Byrd and Juan Uribe.  While these two veterans provide great l

Here are Sunday’s starting lineups, first pitch at 1:10pm EST:

Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians
SS
Alcides Escobar (R)
DH
Carlos Santana (S)
CF
Lorenzo Cain (R)
2B
Jason Kipnis (L)
1B
 Eric Hosmer (L)
SS
Francisco Lindor (S)
DH
Kendrys Morales (S)
LF
Michael Brantley (L)
LF Alex Gordon (L) 1B Mike Napoli (R)
C
Salvador Perez (R)
C
Yan Gomes (R)
3B
Cheslor Cuthbert (R)
CF
Lonnie Chisenhall (L)
2B
Christian Colon (R)
RF
Marlon Byrd (R)
RF
Jarrod Dyson (L)
3B
Juan Uribe (R)
SP
Edison Volquez (RHP)
SP
Josh Tomlin (RHP)

 

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