On the flip side the INdians will face Bruce Chen and you can tell they are getting desperate against lefties with some first timers in there including Rottino. All in all there are a total of 94 at bats with just 24 hits for a .255 average and 7 of those hits come from Brantley. The Indians rely on getting on base via the walk and hitting RHP. They face Chen who is ranked in the top 20 in BB/9 among starters and that's the main struggle for them here today especially since he also throws lefty. They are hitting .186 and scoring 00.96 runs per 9 vs. LHP over their last 10 games. ON the road this year they are scoring nearly a run less per 9 vs. LHP and their bullpen ERA is a run higher than the Royals who are scoring over a run more per 9 vs. RHP. They are about to get swept in back to back series which you would think is hard to happen, but the Indians are 3-14 in their last 17 games facing a game 3 after losing the first two.
What I like most about this play is the Indians struggles vs. LHP who have control. They've faced 5 pitchers including Chen who are in the top 50 in BB/9 among starters resulting in 8 games where they are 0-8. Those pitchers have posted a 1.09 ERA. Chen has better control than Sale, Vargas and Price all who gave up a total of 3 ER combined in 26.2 innings pitched. Their most recent game was against the Twins Diamond who threw a complete game shutout.
