Tigers at Royals
The Kansas City Royals are feeling at home at Kauffman Stadium again. The Royals will try for a fourth straight home win following a 10-game skid in their home park when they host the Detroit Tigers for the second of a four-game series Friday.
The Royals have found a groove at the plate, averaging 6.2 runs while winning four of their last six following a stretch during which they scored 3.2 runs per game and went 3-15. Kansas City set a season-high for runs in a 10-6 win in the series opener. The Tigers had won two straight following a string of five losses in six games, and Thursday’s defeat came with the added sting of injury. Miguel Cabrera strained his right hamstring running out an infield single in his first game back after missing three games with a sore left biceps, and the latest injury could land the former MVP on the disabled list.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Francisco Liriano (3-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-3, 3.48)
Liriano has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his first five starts, including three quality starts. The 34-year-old won at Baltimore last time out, allowing three runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings. Liriano has allowed four runs over 12 innings in two starts against Kansas City this season and is 8-5 with a 4.21 ERA versus the Royals in his career.
After starting the season with three straight quality starts, Kennedy has failed to pitch into the sixth in his last three outings. The 33-year-old labored through five innings in a no-decision last time out, allowing two runs and five hits with six strikeouts and two walks against the White Sox. Kennedy is 3-4 with a 4.01 ERA in nine starts against Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals C Salvador Perez’s home run Thursday was his 18th against the Tigers – his most against any opponent.
2. Tigers RF Nicholas Castellanos has three straight three-hit games against the Royals and is 12-for-30 versus Kansas City in seven games this season.
3. Kansas City RF Jorge Soler has reached base in a career-high 18 straight games, the longest active streak in the American League, and is 14-for-35 during a nine-game hitting streak.