Royals at Yankees
The New York Yankees have seen their offense come to a standstill, managing a single run in three straight home games for the first time since 1967. The Yankees will attempt to avoid a fourth consecutive home defeat Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals, who have taken the first two contests of the four-game set by outscoring New York 18-2. It marked the 18th time this season the Yankees have failed to score more than two runs, tying them with Houston for the most in the American League.
Kansas City can climb back to the .500 mark and register only their second series win at Yankee Stadium since 2000 with a victory Wednesday. Billy Butler has homered in each of the the first two games and rookie David Lough has driven in a run in each contest with a double and a homer. Eric Hosmer continues to swing a hot bat for the Royals, driving in 10 runs during an 11-game stretch that has included seven multi-hit contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN (Kansas City), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Wade Davis (4-7, 5.42 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Ivan Nova (3-2, 4.09)
Davis has lost two straight and is 1-4 over his last nine starts, although he has allowed three runs or fewer seven times in that span. He pitched well last time out, matching his season high with eight strikeouts and giving up three runs in seven innings vs. Oakland after being battering for six runs while recording just three outs in his previous start. Davis was roughed up for seven runs in five frames in a loss to the Yankees on May 10.
An injury opened the door for Nova to make a spot start on Friday and he made the best of it, throwing his first career complete game and striking out 11 in a 3-2 win over Baltimore. That performance earned him another start against an opponent that has bludgeoned him for 19 runs over 8 1/3 innings in two outings in 2011. The Yankees have scored more than four runs once in Nova's nine appearances (six starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. New York has not lost four straight at Yankee Stadium since July 28-31, 2012.
2. Davis is 2-4 with a 5.01 ERA in 11 career appearances (seven starts) against the Yankees.
3. Butler is 4-for-6 with a double and two RBIs vs. Nova.