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Indians hoping to avoid basement in AL Central

Aug 19, 2008 - 12:19 PM Kansas City (55-69) at Cleveland (56-67) 7:05 p.m. EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians try to avoid the basement in the American League Central Division when they open a series against the last-place Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.

The Indians sit 1 1/2 games in front of the Royals in fourth place in the AL Central but have struggled to score runs in their last five games against Kansas City, which ranks 11th in the league with a 4.67 ERA. Cleveland has scored two runs or less in each of those five contests and own just four wins in eight games vs. the Royals this season.

However, the Indians enter this series with seven wins in their previous 10 games, recording at least 10 hits six times over that span, including 11 during a 4-3 victory against the major league-best Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday.

Anthony Reyes (1-1, 2.19 ERA) hopes the hit parade continues when he takes the mound for Cleveland on Tuesday. Reyes has pitched well for the Indians after he was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals on July 26, but suffered a hard-luck loss on Wednesday, allowing two runs and six hits in six innings, walking two en route to a 6-1 setback to the Baltimore Orioles.

Luke Hochevar (6-11, 5.44), who is 0-4 with a 6.59 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break, tries to earn his first win since July 11 when he toes the rubber for the Royals.