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Sep 26, 2010 - 4:15 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Kansas City (63-90) at Cleveland (63-91), 1:05 p.m. EDT

A pleasant surprise this season for the Kansas City Royals, Bruce Chen appears to have yet again revitalized his lengthy major league career.

Chen looks to win his third straight start overall and against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday at Progressive Field.

Pitching for his 10th team since breaking into the majors in 1998, the 33-year-old Chen (11-7, 4.69 ERA) is the winningest pitcher on a Kansas City staff that features 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke.

Chen, who signed a minor league contract with the Royals after going 1-6 with a 5.78 ERA for them last season, could have a chance to match his career high of 13 wins set in 2005 with Baltimore.

"It feels good to be able to help this team and be out there trying to contribute," Chen told the Royals' official website.

The left-hander is 3-0 with a 4.08 ERA in his last five starts and won his last two despite posting a 4.91 ERA. He gave up three runs in six innings of a 9-6 win at Detroit on Tuesday.

"The thing I like about Bruce is he doesn't get flustered," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "If he gives up a home run, he just says, 'Give me the ball back and I'll go back to trying to make my pitch.'"

Chen is 3-0 with a 5.27 ERA in four appearances against the Indians this season, including 2-0 with a 4.63 ERA as a starter. He allowed two runs in six innings of a 6-2 win at Cleveland on Aug. 29.

Indians' scheduled starter Fausto Carmona (12-14, 3.79) took the loss in that contest, allowing three runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings. He is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA against Kansas City this season.

Carmona, however, is 1-1 with a 1.52 ERA in his last four starts overall. The right-hander has allowed two runs in each of his last two starts, the latest coming over 5 2-3 innings when he did not factor in the decision of a 6-4 loss at Minnesota on Tuesday.

He hopes to help the Indians (64-91) to a second straight victory over the Royals after a 7-1 win Saturday. Cleveland is one-half game up on Kansas City in the race to avoid finishing last in the AL Central.

After going 3 for 3 with two RBIs in Cleveland's 7-3 win Friday, Shin-Soo Choo went 4 for 5 with two RBIs Saturday. He is batting .385 with 20 RBIs in 17 games against Kansas City this year.

"He continued to show his hot streak against the Royals," Indians manager Manny Acta said.

Mike Aviles, who had two hits for the Royals (63-91) on Saturday, is batting .377 over his last 16 games. He is hitting .356 versus Cleveland this season.