Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-keith-hernandez-jersey , who is expected to start Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros on Saturday, will start the Indians‘ final game of the regular season Sunday afternoon against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.Carrasco isn’t expected to go more than 70 or 80 pitches, as manager Terry Francona wants to keep the 31-year-old right-hander fresh for his start in Houston.“We need to get Carlos ready,” Francona said.Article continues below ...Trevor Bauer will follow Carrasco to the mound. The Indians have yet to decide whether Bauer will be used as a starter or reliever in the postseason.Carrasco’s last appearance came as a reliever Sept. 25, a 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Carrasco in that game relieved Bauer in the fifth inning, as the two starters were getting limited work in preparation for the postseason.In that relief stint, Carrasco pitched four scoreless innings on one hit before giving up a walk, three consecutive singles and three runs in the ninth inning. In 4 1/3 innings overall, he allowed three runs and four hits, with eight strikeouts and four walks.“Carlos was very good until the ninth inning,” Francona said.Carrasco’s last win came Aug. 28. He is 0-3 with a 3.62 ERA in five appearances (four starts) since.His last start against Kansas City, his only outing against the Royals this year Bob Gibson Jersey , came in his second start of the season, a 3-2 win on April 6. In that game, Carrasco pitching six innings, allowing two runs and five hits, with four strikeouts and one walk. In 23 career appearances (18 starts) against the Royals, Carrasco is 10-6 with a 3.55 ERA.The Indians go into Sunday’s game with a record of 90-71. It’s the third time in team history that they have had three consecutive seasons with 90 or more wins. The other two times were from 1999-2001, and from 1950-1955.The Indians’ starting lineup Sunday will probably be the one they use in Game 1 of the Division Series against Houston, which will include Jason Kipnis in center field.Kipnis was moved from second base to the outfield after the Indians traded for third baseman Josh Donaldson at the end of August.Donaldson’s arrival pushed Jose Ramirez from third to second base, and Kipnis from second to center field, where he’s played well offensively and defensively. Kipnis is hitting .275 as a center fielder after hitting .228 while at second base.“He looks more comfortable out there in center. He looks pretty good,” Francona said.The Royals (58-103) will conclude the season with left-hander Eric Skoglund on the mound. Skoglund (1-5, 5.40) will make his 13th start of the season. He missed three months with a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.His last start was an abbreviated one. On Sept. 25 http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-willie-mcgee-jersey , he got no decision in a 4-3 Royals win over the Cincinnati Reds. Skoglund pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and giving up one hit but left the game after a long rain delay.Skoglund’s only win of the season came April 28. In nine appearances (eight starts) since then, he is 0-3 with a 4.98 ERA.His last start against Cleveland, on Aug. 27, 2017, was ugly. In 1 1/3 innings, he gave up seven runs and seven hits, with one strikeout and two walks.In two career appearances against the Indians, Skoglund is 0-2 with a 29.70 ERA, having given up 11 runs, 11 hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. ATLANTA — Kevin Gausman has exceeded expectations since being acquired by the Atlanta Braves, but Chris Archer has fallen far short of what was anticipated with the Pittsburgh Pirates.The right-handers, acquired just before the July nonwaiver trade deadline Mike Matheny Jersey , will oppose each other Saturday night in the middle game of a weekend series between the Braves and Pirates at SunTrust Park.Gausman, acquired from Baltimore, is 4-1 and has a 1.69 ERA in five starts for the Braves and worked eight scoreless innings in a victory over the Pirates in Pittsburgh.Article continues below ...Archer, obtained by the Pirates from Tampa Bay in what was considered a more significant deal, is 1-2 with a 6.45 ERA in five starts for his new team and had to leave a loss to the Braves in Pittsburgh after four innings when he tweaked his left leg while batting.The success or failure of the pitchers has mirrored the results of their teams, with the Braves (74-60) holding first place in the National League East and the Pirates (66-69) slipping way behind in the NL Central.Atlanta’s lead in the NL East over Philadelphia is down to two games, though, after the Pirates, swept by the Braves in Pittsburgh just over a week ago, won the series opener 3-2 on Friday night in Atlanta. Gausman, who was 5-8 with a 4.43 ERA for the Orioles before the trade, has won four straight starts since losing his debut with the Braves and has gone eight innings twice to give the Braves’ bullpen a needed break.The former No. 4 overall draft pick has allowed just 21 hits in 32 innings for the Braves and has 22 strikeouts and seven walks. Gausman http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-red-schoendienst-jersey , 27, gave up four hits against the Pirates on Aug. 21 in Pittsburgh, struck out five and walked two.“Any time you change anything as a major leaguer, there’s always a big question mark in your mind,” Gausman said. “There was a part of me that was a little hesitant, but I just jumped headfirst right into it.”Gausman, who was 0-1 with 10 earned runs allowed in 10 2/3 innings against the Pirates in two starts for Baltimore, has not only changed teams and leagues, but abandoned the windup to go solely from the stretch.“Overall, I think it made everything better,” he said. “I think I’m more consistent. Fastball command has definitely been a lot better. It’s easier to throw the ball (in) the zone when I want to.”Archer was 3-5 with a 4.31 ERA in 17 starts before the trade to Pittsburgh, and the Pirates thought the 29-year-old was ready for a late-season turnaround and success in the future.Instead Enos Slaughter Jersey , Archer has struggled even more. He has lasted less than five innings in three of his starts for the Pirates and failed to make it to the sixth in the other two.Archer was tagged for six runs in the third inning during a loss to Milwaukee in his most recent start, surrendering five consecutive hits that included a pair of two-run homers.“I know I keep saying it, but my stuff is good, everything feels good. I just need to execute at a higher level,” Archer said after the loss to the Brewers. “A six-run inning is inexcusable.”The only run Archer gave up against the Braves came in the first inning came on a two-out single by Nick Markakis, but he had to leave early because of the mishap batting — something he wasn’t used to doing with the designated hitter.Archer is 0-for-6 with four strikeouts for the Pirates. Gausman, another former American Leaguer, is 1-for-12 for the Braves and has drawn two walks to go along with three strikeouts.