r league games in September Danny Salazar Jersey , two relief pitchers will start Thursday night as the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals play the opener of a regular season-ending four-game series at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin (2-5, 6.44 ERA) will face Kansas City’s Glenn Sparkman (0-3, 4.86). The two American League Central Division teams are a study in extremes. The Indians (89-69) have won the division for the third consecutive year while the Royals (56-102) are in last place.Tomlin, 33, made six early-season starts before being moved to the bullpen. In 23 relief appearances, he is 2-2 with a 4.55 ERA. In eight starts, he is 0-3, 7.82.Article continues below ...Tomlin’s last appearance was a relief stint against Boston on Sunday in which he pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and picking up the win in a 4-3 Cleveland victory.His last start came Sept. 20, against the White Sox when he got a no-decision in a 5-4 Indians loss. In that game, Tomlin pitched four innings, allowing four runs and eight hits, with two strikeouts and no walks.Tomlin’s only appearance against the Royals this year was as a reliever Aug. 25, when he pitched one inning, giving up one run and three hits, with no strikeouts and no walks.The last time Tomlin started a game against the Royals was Sept. 14 http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-b.j.-upton-jersey , 2017, when he got a no-decision in a 3-2 Indians win. In that game he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits, with four strikeouts and one walk.In 26 career appearances (21 starts) against Kansas City, Tomlin is 10-5 with a 3.93 ERA.Sparkman is at the other end of the career spectrum from Tomlin, who during his nine-year career has appeared in 182 major league games. The 26-year-old Sparkman has appeared in 16 major league games, mostly as a reliever.In 12 relief appearances for the Royals this year he is 0-2 with a 4.62 ERA. He has made two starts and is 0-1, 5.63. His last appearance came as a reliever in an 11-8 Royals’ loss to Detroit in which he received no decision. He pitched four innings, allowing two runs and five hits.Sparkman’s last start was a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Aug. 21. He pitched four innings, giving up three runs and seven hits, with five strikeouts and three walks. Thursday will be his first career appearance against Cleveland.A big challenge for Sparkman will be Cleveland designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion, who after hitting 38 home runs with 107 RBIs last year in his first season with Cleveland, has hit 32 homers with 105 RBIs this year. Encarnacion has driven in at least 100 runs in six of the last seven years, including the last four years in a row.“As long as he stays healthy, you can pencil him in for 100 every year,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “That’s nice to know Edwin Encarnacion Jersey , at the start of the season, that you’re going get 100 RBIs out of him.”Cleveland leads the season series 10-5. Detroit Tigers (13-14, third in the AL Central) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (16-13, first in the AL East)Philadelphia; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Tigers: Daniel Norris (1-0, 3.93 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 15 strikeouts) Phillies: Aaron Nola (1-0, 5.68 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 32 strikeouts)Article continues below ...LINE: Phillies favored by 1 1/2 runs; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: Niko Goodrum and the Tigers will take on Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park.The Phillies are 11-6 in home games. Philadelphia’s team on-base percentage of .325 is eighth in the league. Rhys Hoskins leads the team with an OBP of .414.The Tigers are 7-9 on the road. Detroit has hit 20 home runs this season, last in the league. Goodrum leads the club with three while slugging .450.TOP PERFORMERS: Hoskins leads the Phillies with 15 extra base hits and is batting .279. Scott Kingery is 12-for-28 with four doubles, two home runs and six RBIs over the last 10 games for Philadelphia.Nicholas Castellanos leads the Tigers with 13 extra base hits and has eight RBIs. Christin Stewart is 11-for-35 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs and 11 RBIs over the last 10 games for Detroit.LAST 10 GAMES: Phillies: 5-5, .211 batting average http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-b.j.-upton-jersey , 3.68 ERATigers: 5-5, .270 batting average, 5.71 ERA, outscored by nine runsPhillies Injuries: David Robertson: 10-day IL (elbow), Tommy Hunter: 60-day IL (arm), Victor Arano: 10-day IL (elbow), Roman Quinn: 10-day IL (groin), Odubel Herrera: 10-day IL (hamstring), Scott Kingery: 10-day IL (hamstring).Tigers Injuries: Jordan Zimmermann: 10-day IL (elbow), Matt Moore: 10-day IL (knee), Blaine Hardy: 10-day IL (forearm), Michael Fulmer: 60-day IL (elbow), Christin Stewart: 10-day IL (quad), Josh Harrison: 10-day IL (shoulder).