A home-heavy stretch of games would be good news for most teams looking to shake off a slow start.
The Cleveland Indians seem to be a rare exception.
The Indians try to avoid their second four-game skid of the season Tuesday night against the Kansas City Royals.
Returning to Progressive Field following a disappointing road trip didn't help the Indians (6-12), who committed three errors and lost the series opener 6-2 as reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber fell to 0-3. Cleveland was limited to four hits, with all its offense coming from Mike Aviles' two-run homer.
Monday started a stretch where the Indians play 13 of 16 games at home after 12 of their first 17 came on the road. However, they've lost five of six in Cleveland for the team's worst start there since opening 1-7 in 1991.
"In an ideal world, we would've won more games than we have already, but I think we'll refrain from reading too much into just a handful of games," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. "I continue to believe in the roster we have, and we'll play better than we have so far."
Indians starters have a 7.88 ERA with two quality starts at home, the most recent courtesy of Trevor Bauer, who takes the mound following an eight-day layoff.
Bauer (2-0, 0.95 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against Detroit but had to be scratched after warming up due to food poisoning.
The right-hander was outstanding in his most recent appearance, tossing four-hit ball over seven scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox on April 20 before closer Cody Allen faltered in the ninth of a 4-3 loss.
Bauer has yet to allow a home run while striking out 26 in 19 innings this season.
He went 0-1 with a 4.11 ERA in three starts against the Royals last year.
A loss in either of the next two games would give the Indians five series losses and one split since opening the season by winning two of three in Houston. They are already assured of finishing April with a losing record for the third consecutive year.
Mike Moustakas matched a career high with four hits and Alex Gordon had two RBIs to help Kansas City improve to 13-6 after coming within one game of winning the World Series last season.
"Teams can go one of two ways when they get a taste of winning," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "You can go on the banquet circuit and kind of dig yourself or you can come back with a `Hey, we got there and we want to do it again.' They seem to be in that mode. I wish they weren't."
Moustakas entered Monday in a 1-for-28 slump against the Indians, but improved to 11 for 26 in his last six games overall.
He'll look to stay hot in support of Jeremy Guthrie (1-1, 5.50), who faces the team he's struggled the most against in his career. The right-hander is 5-5 with a 6.06 ERA in 13 career appearances - including 11 starts - against Cleveland. That ERA is his highest against any opponent he's faced more than five times.
Several Indians have fared very well in this matchup. Carlos Santana is 10 for 21 with two homers and three doubles against Guthrie, Jason Kipnis is 11 for 20, also with two home runs and three doubles, and Lonnie Chisenhall is 8 for 15 with a homer.
Guthrie struggled with his control against Minnesota on Wednesday, matching a career high with six walks and allowing three runs over five innings in a 3-0 loss.
