Cleveland (15-22) concluded a 4-4 road trip with a 6-2 loss at Tampa Bay on Tuesday. That trip started with the Indians taking two of three from Kansas City last week.
The Indians, however, had both shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and center fielder Grady Sizemore in that series against the Royals (15-25). They might not have either near the top of their order Wednesday.
Cabrera will undergo surgery after suffering a broken forearm Monday. Jason Donald went 2 for 3 in his major league debut in place of Cabrera on Tuesday.
“If he can do that every day, we’re in heaven,” manager Manny Acta told the Indians’ official website.
Sizemore could miss a third straight game because of a bruised left knee.
“It’s still bothering me,” said Sizemore, who’s batting .221. “I’m not even testing it out yet. Right now, I’m just taking it slow.”
The Indians could rely on Russell Branyan, who’s 1 for 15 in his last five games after going 5 for 9 with three homers against the Royals last week.
Branyan, who opened the season on the disabled with a herniated disc, is 2 or 3 with a double against Kansas City’s scheduled starter Gil Meche (0-4, 7.17 ERA).
Meche is 0-5 with a 7.58 ERA in nine starts since beating the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 18. However, the right-hander is coming off one of his better outings after allowing one run in six innings of a 6-1 win over the White Sox on Friday.
“I feel real comfortable out there,” said Meche, who’s allowed four runs in 14 innings over his last two starts. “The confidence is carrying over and I’m feeling good.”
Meche is 5-9 with a 4.72 ERA in 22 starts against Cleveland, which counters with Justin Masterson (0-4, 5.92).
The right-hander, who’s 0-10 with a 5.38 ERA in 14 starts since beating the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 20, allowed six runs and five walks in 5 1-3 innings of an 8-1 loss at Baltimore on Friday.
“You think about anything that could take place - it’s probably taken place,” Masterson told the Indians’ official website. “It’s two or three pitches a game, but it seems like the two or three times I do hang them, it really does hurt me, which is unfortunate.”
Masterson, however, has had some success against the Royals, going 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts.
Alberto Callaspo had two hits for Kansas City in a 4-3, 10-inning loss at Baltimore on Tuesday. The Royals are 3-2 since Ned Yost replaced fired manager Trey Hillman after their 6-4 win over the Indians on Thursday.
Callaspo was 5 for 12 with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs against Cleveland last week.
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