Royals at Rays
Elliot Johnson has taken a lead role against his former team this season as the Kansas City Royals have produced 34 runs in four victories. The reserve infielder looks to stay hot when the Royals visit the Tampa Bay Rays for the third of a four-game series on Saturday. Johnson is 8-for-15 with five RBIs in four contests against the Rays and Kansas City has turned its season around with nine victories in its last 10 games.
Alex Cobb will try to end a streak of poor performances by Tampa Bay’s starting pitchers, who have surrendered 32 runs in 31 innings in the last six games. The Rays lost five of those, giving up 42 runs overall. Evan Longoria and Matt Joyce continue to hit for Tampa Bay, but No. 3 hitter Kelly Johnson has only four hits in his last 46 at-bats over 12 games.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City, SunSports (Tampa)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (7-3, 3.60 ERA) vs. Rays RH Alex Cobb (6-2, 2.95)
Guthrie has produced three straight quality starts - allowing five runs over 18 1/3 innings and earning two victories - after losing three in a row. The right-hander has walked 28 in 85 innings and surrendered 16 home runs, tied for the most in the American League through Thursday. Guthrie is 7-10 with a 4.14 ERA in 21 appearances (19 starts) against Tampa Bay and Joyce is 10-for-27 with a homer against him.
Cobb gave up six runs in the first inning of his last start, but battled back with three scoreless frames and did not get a decision. The 25-year-old has not lost since April 30 against Kansas City, when he allowed four runs in the sixth after five scoreless innings, and is 13-3 overall since Aug. 1, 2012. Cobb is 1-2 in three career starts against the Royals with a 5.23 ERA and Eric Hosmer is 4-for-10 with a homer in those contests.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kansas City has won eight of its last 10 games against Tampa Bay, giving up two or fewer runs in three of four in 2013.
2. Tampa Bay 1B James Loney is batting .400 (30-for-75) from the seventh inning on, best among players with at least 40 at-bats.
3. The Royals lead the majors in bullpen ERA (2.68) and top the American League in overall ERA (3.38).