Scoring runs was bound to be a problem for the Kansas City Royals this season, but the team’s offensive woes have been even worse than expected during their 0-3 start. The Royals will try to get the bats going against Detroit Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd in the second of a three-game series Tuesday in Detroit.
The Royals are hitting just .206 as a team following Monday’s 6-1 loss in the series opener. No regular is hitting over .250, but Kansas City hopes to change that against Boyd – third baseman Mike Moustakas is 5-for-13 with a double and a homer against the Tigers’ southpaw, while second baseman Whit Merrifield is 4-for-10 with two doubles and a triple. Detroit swung the bats well in the opener, picking up its first win of the season as Nicholas Castellanos and Victor Martinez delivered the biggest hits of the game. Castellanos is off to a hot start, as he is 7-for-17 with a double and a pair of triples through four games.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Kansas City, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jakob Junis (2017: 9-3, 4.30 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (2017: 6-11, 5.27)
Junis put together a solid rookie campaign, especially down the stretch, as he allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of his last eight starts in 2017. The 25-year-old had an excellent spring, racking up 20 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings. Junis was 2-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three games (two starts) against Detroit last year.
Boyd took a step backward last year, as his walk rate crept up. The 27-year-old followed a strong September with a solid spring, though, giving the Tigers hope he can take the next step in his development. Boyd is 2-4 with a 7.91 ERA in nine starts against the Royals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals 1B Lucas Duda left Monday’s game with a tight right hamstring after running out a grounder in the fourth inning.
2. Detroit catchers have thrown out five of seven potential base-stealers.
3. Kansas City claimed OF Abraham Almonte off waivers from Cleveland on Monday and designated RHP Miguel Almonte for assignment.