Cleveland, OH (My Sportsbook) - A pair of AL Central clubs take to the field for the first game of their final series of the campaign this evening, when the Kansas City Royals battle the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field.

Kansas City comes in with two wins in its last three contests and three victories in its last five games overall. The Royals are just 4-6 over their last 10 games, including a 7-2 win over Detroit on Thursday.

Carlos Beltran homered and drove in four runs to lead the Royals to the victory. Dee Brown and A.J. Hinch each added a hit and drove in a run for the Royals.

Jeff Suppan pitched a complete game for his first win in more than two months. Suppan (9-16) ended a personal career-high nine-game losing streak by giving up two runs on five hits while walking two and fanning five in his first win since July 17.

Cleveland comes into this contest after dropping two of three to Minnesota. The Indians did salvage the set with an 8-4 victory over the Twins on Thursday.

Brandon Phillips tripled, added two doubles and tallied a career-high four RBI for the Indians in the win. Covelli Crisp added two runs scored on three hits in the winning effort.

Ryan Drese (10-9) earned his first win in five starts for the Indians after allowing three runs, two earned, in 6 2/3 innings. The righthander also allowed seven hits and two walks, while striking out three.

Cleveland will send young lefthander C.C. Sabathia to the hill this evening. Sabathia has won four of his last five decisions and six of eight overall. The southpaw won last week against the Royals, limiting them to just eight hits and three runs -- two earned -- over seven frames. He fanned four and walked one in the win.

Sabathia has been solid against the Royals this season, posting a 2-1 mark with a 4.80 ERA. For his career, Sabathia has registered a 6-1 tally with a 3.22 ERA versus Kansas City.

Sabathia has been decent at home this year, posting a 5-5 record with a 4.30 ERA in 15 contests.

Kansas City will reply with rookie twirler Wes Obermueller on the hill. Obermueller was unsuccessful in his major league debut last week, surrendering six hits and four runs over just 3 2/3 innings against Cleveland. The 25-year- old fanned two and walked one in the losing effort.

The Royals own a 10-6 advantage in this series in 2002, but the squads have split six games at Jacobs Field. Kansas City possesses a slight 18-17 lead in the series since the start of the 2001 campaign.