Bieber on the Mound as the Indians Battle the Royals; The Tribe Starting Nine

Following Monday’s long night waiting through a delay as well as going into extra innings, the Tribe is back at it tonight as they will take on the Royals in game two of their three-game set at Progressive Field.

The Indians have won four straight and are now eight games over .500 at 43-35 as they enter play Tuesday evening, 7.5 back of the Minnesota Twins for first in the AL Central.

June has been an excellent month for the Indians, as they have won nine of its past 11 to improve to an American League-best 15-6 in June. The Royals are going the other way losing three of its past four.

Shane Bieber will go for the Indians tonight, he’ll enter play with a mark of 6-3 with an ERA of 3.86. Bieber took a loss in Texas last week, his first since May 13th.

Bieber went six innings in the setback, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.

The Royals will send out righty Glenn Sparkman (2-3, 3.62 ERA). He will be on the hill after a solid game out against the Twins last Thursday.

In that win he allowed one run on five hits in a career-high seven innings in a 4-1 victory.

The finale of the homestand will be an afternoon affair on Wednesday afternoon with a 1pm first pitch.

Here’s tonight’s starting nine for the Indians:

Francisco Lindor SS
Oscar Mercado CF
Carlos Santana 1B
Jason Kipnis 2B
Jose Ramirez 3B
Bobby Bradley DH
Tyler Naquin RF
Roberto Perez C
Mike Freeman LF

And the Royals starting lineup:

CF Whit Merrifield
2B Nicky Lopez
LF Alex Gordon
3B Hunter Dozier
RF Jorge Soler
DH Cheslor Cuthbert
1B Lucas Duda
SS Humbertok Arteaga
C Martin Maldonado