KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Trevor Bauer calls it random variation when one pitcher has an extraordinary amount of success against one team. He says things will eventually even out over a career.
On Friday at Kauffman Stadium, random variation was the order of the night as Josh Tomlin and Jason Vargas faced each other. Tomlin came into the game with a 10-4 record against the Royals. Vargas took the mound with a 7-3 record against the Indians.
The difference between them? Instant replay and the four double plays the Indians hit into while being shut out for just the second time this season.