Yankees at Royals
The New York Yankees will try to extend their streak of series wins to eight when they take on the host Kansas City Royals in the rubber match of their three-game series Sunday afternoon. Gary Sanchez homered twice among four hits to lead a 14-hit attack in Saturday's 8-3 triumph for the Yankees, evening the set at a game apiece.
Aaron Hicks had an inside-the-park homer and scored twice for New York, which has won 20 of its last 24. Struggling shortstop Didi Gregorius, mired in a 1-for-45 stretch for the Yankees, was given the day off while outfielder Clint Frazier had a double and two walks in his season debut. Whit Merrifield had a hit in four at-bats and is batting .447 during a 12-game hitting streak for the Royals, who turn to left-hander Eric Skoglund on the mound in the series finale. The Yankees give the ball to struggling righty Sonny Gray as they look to improve to 9-1 against the American League Central.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Sonny Gray (2-3, 6.39 ERA) vs. Royals LH Eric Skoglund (1-3, 5.58)
Gray allowed two runs and four hits in six innings in back-to-back starts before getting roughed up in a loss to Oakland on May 11. He surrendered five runs on a season-high nine hits - including two home runs - in the outing. The Vanderbilt product boasts a 2.77 ERA in four career starts against the Royals.
Skoglund allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings - his longest start of the year - against Tampa Bay on Monday. He lasted at least seven frames in two of his four home starts and was limited to 4 2/3 innings in the other two at Kauffman Stadium, giving up five runs in both of those clunkers. The 25-year-old Floridian is facing the Yankees for the first time in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees 2B Gleyber Torres slugged a three-run homer Saturday after reaching base three times in the series opener.
2. The Royals placed IF Cheslor Cuthbert (back) on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to May 16, and recalled IF Ramon Torres from Triple-A Omaha.
3. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon is 0-for-8 with six strikeouts in the series.