PREVIEW: Indians look to bounce back in home opener against Royals

CLEVELAND– Happy home opener Tribe fans! Today the Cleveland Indians (2-4) kick off a 10-game homestand with the first game in a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals (1-3).

Time: 4:10 p.m. ET

Starting Pitchers: CLE Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 7.94) vs. KC Danny Duffy (0-1, 11.25)

TV Channel:  SportsTime Ohio

Online Stream: MLB.TV

Radio: WTAM 1100; Indians Radio Network

Terry Francona on how special opening day is #Indians pic.twitter.com/CYyZPqG6HB

— Matt Loede (@MattLoede) April 6, 2018

1. Paging Dr. Smooth

In case you missed it, Michael Brantley was activated earlier Friday, while Tyler Naquin was optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

Brantley appeared in three spring training games, going 4-of-10 at the plate with a home run and two RBIs. During the offseason, Brantley had surgery to stabilize ligaments in his right ankle, following an injury he suffered on Aug. 8.

Brantley says he’s currently focused on taking things one game at a time.

“I feel great right now as we speak, and that’s all that matters,” he said pregame. “One day at a time. I understand that, I’ve been banged up for the last couple of years, but at the same time I’m as focused as ever.”

Brantley has appeared in 101 games combined in 2016 and 2017, and the club picked up his team option for the 2018 season right after the end of the 2017 campaign.

“He means so much to what we’re doing,” Indians manager Terry Francona said pregame. “Nobody has a crystal ball. You don’t know who’s going to get hits or not, but just his being and what he means to everybody will really be helpful.”

2. Cookie on the mound

Carlos Carrasco is looking for his second win of the 2018 season. If he does pick up the W, he will be just the first Indians pitcher to record a win in the home opener since CC Sabathia did so in 2007.

The odds are in Cookie’s favor however, as he has won each of his previous seven decision, a career best winning streak.

His first start of the season came on March 31 against the Seattle Mariners, when he got torched for five runs over five and two-thirds innings. The Tribe rallied to beat the Mariners, 6-5 in that game giving him the W. This is also the second straight home opener Carrasco will start, as he recorded a no-decision in Cleveland’s 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox last season.

“It’s nice to hand him the ball,” Francona said. “He’s earned so much of what he has. … It’s fun to watch guys develop into being really good.”

3. Run support

The Indians have not gotten off to the hottest offensive start. They currently rank 29th in the league in hits (33-of-205), and are 23rd in runs scored with 21.

Look no further than Corey Kluber’s starts for the best examples of this, as the Tribe ace has pitched 15.0 innings and allowed just four runs, but currently has an 0-1 record after picking up a no-decision in Wednesday’s game against he Angels.

If the Tribe can get the bats going today, a win should be in their sights.