Eric Hosmer
Royals' 10-game road trip kicks off with visit to Sixth City
Eric Hosmer

Royals' 10-game road trip kicks off with visit to Sixth City

Published Jul. 27, 2015 2:23 p.m. ET

The last eight games between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians have been about as even as it can get. Both teams have won four contests and no team has won more than one game in a row.

Royals vs. Indians -- Last 8 Games (Since April 28, 2015)

  Royals Indians
Wins 4 4
Runs 38 39
Hits 68 64
OBP .316 .318
SLG .411 .411

The Royals, however, have won five of their nine matchups overall with the Indians so far this season, including two of the three meetings in Cleveland.

AL, Most Days Between Being 22+ Games over .500 -- All-Time

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Team Days Range
Cleveland Indians 13,042 9/2959 - 6/14/95
Chicago White Sox  11,211 10/3/20 - 7/251
Kansas City Royals 9,430 10/1/89 - 7/27/2015
St. Louis Browns 7,984 10/1/22 - 8/10/44

And if you are looking at one particular player to get hot this series, look no further than Eric Hosmer. The All-Star first baseman is hitting .361 with three doubles, one triple, three homers and 13 RBI in nine games against Cleveland this season. Hosmer has 10 home runs and 49 RBI in his career against the Indians -- the most homers and RBI in his career against any opponent.

The Royals haven't been 22 games over .500 since the end of the 1989 season (October 1). A win Monday would end that drought, currently the third-longest gap between days 22 games over .500 in American League history.

Hosmer (10/24/1989), Kelvin Herrera (12/31/1989), Salvador Perez (5/10/1990), Yordano Ventura (6/3/1991), and Cheslor Cuthbert (11/16/1992) weren't even born the last time Kansas City was 22 games over .500.

Edinson Volquez possesses one of the best changeups in all of baseball. Newly acquired teammate Johnny Cueto has a good changeup as well.

Lowest Opponent Batting Average vs. Changeup -- 2015

Player Opponent Batting Average
Zack Greinke (LAD) .141
Scott Kazmir (OAK-HOU) .155
Edinson Volquez (KC) .164
Cole Hamels (PHI) .185

AL, Highest Batting Average on Mondays -- Since 1945

Player Average
Bob Nieman .362
Vladimir Guerrero .352
Minnie Minoso .350
Ted Williams .348
Salvador Perez .347

Perez, a career .279 hitter, turns into a Hall of Fame caliber batter on Mondays.

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