Royals at Indians

Pitching Matchups:

Jeff Francis (3-11, 4.65 ERA) v. Carlos Carrasco (8-8, 4.25 ERA)

Felipe Paulino (1-4, 3.86 ERA) v. Justin Masterson (8-7, 2.57)

Kyle Davies (1-9, 6.75) v. Fausto Carmona (5-10, 5.34)

Royals News/Notes:

• RHP Luke Hochevar yielded only one hit after the third inning and allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings to pick up the victory Thursday at Boston. Hochevar, who walked one and struck out six Red Sox, has won back-to-back starts for the first time since April 10 and 15, when he beat the Tigers and Mariners. It was his seventh victory, which matches his career high. He was 7-13 in 2009.

• DH Billy Butler has hit home runs in three consecutive games and has four in his last seven games after 115 at-bats without going deep. In the four-game series at Fenway Park, Butler went 9-for-19 (.474), with two doubles, three home runs and eight RBI.

• The Royals sent nine men to the plate in their four-run fourth, which included a three-run home run by DH Billy Butler. They became the first club to bat around against Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett since the Yankees in the sixth inning on May 7, 2010.

• CF Melky Cabrera was given Thursday off against the Red Sox. It was the first time Cabrera did not start a game since June 25. He has played in all but four of the Royals’ 105 games this season. OF Mitch Maier replaced Cabrera in center and went 0-for-4 with a walk and scored a run.

Royals Medical Watch:

• C Jason Kendall (right shoulder surgery in September 2010) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list May 5. As of June 8, he was taking batting practice on the field and throwing from up to 105 feet. Kendall reported to Surprise, Ariz., on June 20 to begin working out with the rookie-level Arizona League club, but he had a setback in early July. He underwent another shoulder operation July 13, and he will miss the rest of 2011 and all of the 2012 season.