After the Kansas City Royals snapped a 10-game losing streak Friday, manager Ned Yost believes good things are about to happen.
They Royals, who beat the visiting Cleveland Indians 8-1 in the series opener, will look to build on their rare momentum in the second game of the three-game set Saturday evening.
“It’s always been my experience that when you run through an eight- or 10-game losing streak, you always kind of back it up with a decent winning streak,” Yost said when the streak was actually at eight. “I don’t know how that happens, but in all my years of managing, it always seems to happen.
“I think we’re close.”
The Royals will hope to keep rolling Saturday when they oppose right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, who will be promoted from the minors to make a spot start for the Indians.
Homer Bailey (0-1, 9.00 ERA) will start for Kansas City.
Rodriguez, 25, is getting the call in place of Mike Clevinger, who was placed on the injured list Tuesday due to a back ailment. Clevinger, who was a combined 25-14 with a 3.05 ERA over the previous two seasons, might need surgery to repair the injury.
Rodriguez made his major league debut last year for the Nationals, going 3-3 with a 5.71 ERA in 14 games (eight starts). Cleveland acquired him in a November trade that sent catcher Yan Gomes to Washington.
He won his lone start this season for Triple-A Columbus, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings, before getting the call back to the majors. He will be opposing the Royals for the first time.
“Like any young players, I’m excited for this opportunity,” Rodriguez told the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Friday. “I think it’s important to recognize the environment in the major leagues, especially to know where I am and what I’m supposed to do.”
Indians manager Terry Francona said of Rodriguez, according to the Plain Dealer, “He has a big arm. He’s still developing. … We know that. As he refines his stuff and strike-throwing ability, he’s got a chance to be a pretty good pitcher. Whether it’s a starter or a reliever, it could be either.”
Rodriguez won’t have to do much to improve on the start turned in Friday by Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco, who was knocked out after two-thirds of an inning. Third-place hitter Alex Gordon’s third home run of the season gave the Royals a 3-0 lead, the first six batters reached base, and Kansas City led 6-0 after the inning.
Bailey can only hope to receive similar support.
The 32-year-old right-hander, who spent the previous 12 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, is still looking for his first win with the Royals. He gave up three runs in five innings against the Minnesota Twins on April 3, then yielded seven runs in five innings against the Seattle Mariners on Monday.
He is 3-4 with a 5.79 ERA in nine career starts vs. the Indians. Bailey took the loss in his lone appearance against Cleveland last year, giving up five runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings on Aug. 13. That game was the fifth loss in his on-going 10-decision losing streak.