Royals at Red Sox
The Kansas City Royals finally managed to put together a winning streak for the first time this season over the weekend, but their next challenge figures to be a bit more difficult. Two teams on the opposite end of the spectrum get together for the first time in 2018 when the Boston Red Sox host the opener of a three-game set Monday against the Royals.
Boston has cooled off since its 17-2 start with losses in five of its eight contests, but its 20-7 record is still the best in the majors after the club avoided its first sweep of the season with a 4-3 home win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. J.D. Martinez singled in all four of his at-bats and drove in a pair runs, while Sandy Leon broke open a tie game in the eighth inning with a run-scoring single of his own. American League-worst Kansas City (7-20) downed the Chicago White Sox in back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday but still fell to 0-7-2 in series play because it was outscored 21-7 in the first three contests of the five-game set. Royals first baseman Cheslor Cuthbert ended a couple of dubious droughts in Sunday's 5-4 victory with his two-homer, four-RBI game, going deep for the first time since Aug. 20 while also driving in his first run since March 31.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jason Hammel (0-2, 3.38 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 3.63)
Hammel's winless streak reached nine starts dating back to last season following a loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday after he permitted four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks across 6 2/3 innings. The South Carolina native hasn't received much help from the AL's worst offense, however, as Kansas City has scored two runs or fewer in four of his five starts. Hanley Ramirez is 9-for-19 with a homer against Hammel, who went 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in three starts versus the Red Sox last season.
Rodriguez has logged at least 100 pitches while producing three straight quality starts and has won each of them, including Wednesday in Toronto when he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk in 6 2/3 frames. The 25-year-old Venezuelan has been easier to hit at Fenway Park (.270 at home versus .188 on the road) but made up for it a bit by amassing 15 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings in those two turns. Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 4.98 ERA in four career starts against the Royals.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Red Sox-Royals all-time series is tied at 235-235.
2. Kansas City SS Alcides Escobar is day-to-day with a left hand contusion after being hit by a pitch Sunday.
3. Boston OF Mookie Betts did not play Sunday due to a tight right hamstring, but manager Alex Cora called the two-time All-Star "day-to-day" in a postgame interview.