Beefy Pitcher

The Kansas City Royals struggle to put runs on the scoreboard. The task gets more difficult this weekend with the arrival of the pitching-rich Cleveland Indians. The Royals are likely to face the reigning Cy Young winner, C.C. Sabathia, in a three-game series that begins at 7:10 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium (I-70 and Blue Ridge Cutoff, 816-504-4040). Sabathia dominated the Royals the last time Cleveland came through town, striking out 11 batters. The 6-foot-7 lefty is a favorite of Lawrence-based baseball analyst Bill James, who has marveled at Sabathia’s “aircraft carrier frame supporting large piles of necessary and unnecessary flesh, all of this adorned with comic little ears that stick out from his face as if the Lord couldn’t find a flat place to put them.”

April 22-24; May 30-June 1; Sept. 5-7, 2008