Royals at Athletics
The Kansas City Royals sit 20 games below .500 in a lost season as they open a four-game series against the host Oakland Athletics on Thursday. The Royals have dropped four straight games and began their expected shopping of players by trading center fielder Jon Jay prior to Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
Kansas City is in the midst of a youth movement and it dealt Jay (.307 average) to the Arizona Diamondbacks for two minor-league pitchers - right-hander Elvis Luciano and southpaw Gabe Speier. "Arizona sought out Jon, and they wanted Jon," Royals assistant general manager of baseball operations Scott Sharp said during a conference call. "We felt like if we could put a deal together that had some impact and some long-range ceiling to go ahead and do it, rather than wait for something to come along." Oakland allowed 15 runs in back-to-back setbacks against the Texas Rangers and has lost six of its past nine contests. Athletics designated hitter Khris Davis homered in both losses to the Rangers while going 4-for-7 with four RBIs and two walks.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jason Hammel (2-5, 5.17 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Paul Blackburn (2017: 3-1, 3.22)
Hammel has allowed four runs while going 2-0 over his past three starts after being 0-8 with a 7.28 ERA over his previous 13 turns dating back to last season. The 34-year-old allowed one total run and struck out 16 in wins over St. Louis and Texas before giving up three runs and seven hits over six innings in a no-decision against Oakland in his last turn. Hammel is 4-2 with a 4.65 ERA in 10 career appearances (six starts) against the Athletics.
Blackburn will be activated prior to the game to make his season debut after suffering a right forearm strain late in spring training. The 24-year-old showed promise during 10 starts last season prior to having his campaign ended when he was struck on his pitching hand by a line drive off the bat of Baltimore's Trey Mancini on Aug. 22. Blackburn received a no-decision against Kansas City in his next-to-last start of last year when he gave up four runs and eight hits over four innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Athletics won two of three from the Royals in Kansas City last weekend, including a 16-0 shellacking Friday.
2. Oakland placed LF Matt Joyce (back) on the 10-day disabled list - he is slated to undergo an MRI exam Thursday - and recalled OF Nick Martini from Triple-A Nashville.
3. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon has only 14 RBIs but he drove in three runs for the third time this season Wednesday.