Today the Indians are playing to avoid a three-game series sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals. An Indians defeat today would also give the Tribe its first four-game losing streak since July 28, 2015, when they lost their sixth straight game.
Francisco Lindor, who has played in every inning but three in the 2017 season, is not in the starting lineup today, apparently so that he may have some rest. The shortstop duties will be handled by utility infielder Erik Gonzalez, recently called up from AAA Columbus. I know that Indians manager Terry Francona doesn’t much care to bring a player into a game when he, Francona, decides a player needs a day off, but I don’t think Francona would hesitate to use Lindor as a pinch-hitter in the late innings, should the situation call for it.
Josh Tomlin pitches for the Indians today. The righty pitcher, who pitched so well in the last month of the 2016 season, is having a tough time of things so far this year. He’ll be opposed by southpaw Danny Duffy, who has pitched well in each of his last four starts.
Here are today’s starting lineups:
| Royals | Indians | ||
|
SS
|
Alcides Escobar |
2B
|
Jason Kipnis |
|
3B
|
Mike Moustakas |
RF
|
Daniel Robertson |
|
CF
|
Lorenzo Cain |
LF
|
Michael Brantley |
|
1B
|
Eric Hosmer |
1B
|
Carlos Santana |
|
C
|
Salvador Perez |
DH
|
Edwin Encarnacion |
|
RF
|
Jorge Bonifacio |
3B
|
Jose Ramirez |
|
DH
|
Brandon Moss |
CF
|
Austin Jackson |
|
2B
|
Whit Merrifield |
C
|
Roberto Perez |
|
LF
|
Alex Gordon |
SS
|
Erik Gonzalez |
|
SP
|
Danny Duffy |
SP
|
Josh Tomlin |