(My Sportsbook) - Former No. 1 overall draft pick Bryan Bullington makes his American League debut with the
Cleveland Indians tonight in the second game of a doubleheader with the
Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field.
A 6-foot-4, 220-pounder, Bullington was drafted first by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2002 and reached the majors with them in 2005, making one 1 1/3- inning relief appearance.
He missed all of 2006 due to shoulder surgery, then returned for five more games with the Pirates in 2007 before being waived. Bullington joined the Indians in 2008 and was 1-3 with a save and a 4.75 earned run average over 10 games - eight starts - with Triple-A Buffalo.
Bullington will be opposed in game two by KC right-hander Robinson Tejada, who's starting for the first time this season after going 1-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 23 relief appearances with the Royals.
Tejada, who began the season and made four relief appearances with Texas, hasn't started since July 2007 with the Rangers against Cleveland, an 8-3 loss.
He was a full-time starter throughout 2007, going 5-9 with a 6.61 ERA in 19 starts.
Lifetime against Cleveland, he's 0-1 in four games - one start - with a 3.86 ERA in 9 1/3 innings.
In game one, Cleveland starts right-hander Fausto Carmona against Kansas City's Zach Greinke.
Carmona is 4-0 lifetime against the Royals with a 3.46 ERA in eight appearances, while Greinke has lost four straight decisions against Cleveland since last beating them in May 2007.
The right-hander hasn't taken the mound as a starter since facing Cleveland on July 22, 2007 while with Texas. He allowed five runs, five hits and walked five in five innings of an 8-3 loss.
Tejeda has given up a run and a hit in 4 1-3 innings spanning three appearances against the Indians this year.
On Friday, Kelly Shoppach and Shin-Soo Choo each homered and drove in three runs, helping Cleveland ace Cliff Lee to his league-leading 22nd victory in the Indians' 12-5 thumping of the Royals.
Lee (22-2) wasn't overpowering but was nonetheless effective, scattering 11 hits and five runs -- four earned -- over 8 1/3 innings. The lefty has won 11 straight decisions dating back to July 6. The front-runner for the AL Cy Young Award finished with three punch-outs without walking a batter.
Grady Sizemore was 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and a pair of RBI for Cleveland, which has now won four of its last six, including the opener of this four-game set. Asdrubal Cabrera added a two-run homer for the victors
Gil Meche (11-11) lost for just the second time in 13 starts, getting tagged for six runs on 10 hits with a walk and seven strikeouts through five frames. Jose Guillen homered twice as the Royals have dropped four of their last five
Cleveland has won 10 of its 15 meetings with the Royals this season.