The Cleveland Baseball Club is set to begin the 2020 season at home as they host the Kansas City Royals for a three game set.
It’s finally here, the 2020 MLB season is starting and the Cleveland Baseball Club are getting ready to face the Kansas City Royals at home. While the Royals do not figure to be the most competitive team, they are a club that can give even the best teams headaches. The top of their lineup has the ability to hit fairly well and has speed to burn. Adalberto Mondesi and Whit Merrifield combined for 63 stolen bases last season. Merrifield may be over 30 now, but he still has the ability to steal bases and force the pitcher to pay attention to him. Cleveland will have to be careful when either of these two get on base.
Cleveland’s pitching staff will feature Shane Bieber, Mike Clevvienger, and Carlos Carrasco when facing Kansas City. The Royals are slotted to start Danny Duffy and Brady Singer with their third pitcher TBA.
Duffy has been hit around a lot by Cleveland with a 5.48 ERA, 1.590 WHIP in 21 games (17 starts). There is the potential that Cleveland’s lineup could take advantage of him yet again on Friday night. There are plenty of switch-hitting and right-handed bats in the lineup that could add to the 13 home runs that Duffy has surrendered to Cleveland batters in the past.
Bieber does not have a great history when facing Kansas City (5.22 ERA and 1.466 WHIP in five games), but he is 3-0 in his career.
Clevinger has been absolutely dominant when facing the Royals. “Sunshine” has a 1.93 ERA and 1.031 in 13 appearances (12 starts) with a 9-0 record.
Carrasco has the most experience facing KC and he has been able to pitch fairly well in his 25 appearances (20 starts) with a 3.90 ERA, 1.243 WHIP, and a 11-7 record.
The games will take place at Progressive Field on the following dates and times.
