Royals at Astros
The Houston Astros' loud bats played a significant role in the club recording a decisive sweep of the Kansas City Royals last weekend. Victorious in 13 of their last 14 contests to reach the 50-win plateau, the Astros (50-26) look to continue their torrid stretch on Friday when they begin a three-game series against the visiting Royals (22-52).
Jose Altuve collected his second three-hit performance of the series against Tampa Bay on Wednesday when he recorded his third career multi-homer performance in a 5-1 victory. The 2017 American League Most Valuable Player reached base five times in last weekend's series versus the Royals and is 8-for-16 in his career against Friday starter Danny Duffy. Kansas City's offense is doing the team no favors, as the reeling Royals batted an AL-worst .188 this month while losing nine straight and 15 of their last 16 games overall. Mike Moustakas belted a leadoff homer in Wednesday's 3-2 setback to Texas to extend his hitting streak to six games.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (3-7, 5.55 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (4-8, 4.15)
Duffy bids for a bit of revenge in the series opener after getting gashed for seven runs on as many hits in six innings of Saturday's 10-2 rout by Houston. The 29-year-old surrendered a three-run shot to Max Stassi in that contest and three free passes for the third straight outing, giving him 17 homers and 40 walks permitted in 82 2/3 innings. While Altuve and Marwin Gonzalez (7-for-14) have battered Duffy, the hurler has flustered Carlos Correa (1-for-12) and Josh Reddick (1-for-7) in their respective encounters.
Keuchel benefited from the Astros' offensive explosion on Saturday to post his first win since May 13 after allowing two runs (none earned) in six innings. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner had yielded 23 runs and 41 hits in his previous five outings, with a disastrous three-homer performance against Seattle resulting in his eighth loss of the season on June 5. Keuchel has flustered Salvador Perez (2-for-21, seven strikeouts) and Alex Gordon (2-for-13), although Cheslor Cuthbert (5-for-9, two homers) has gotten the better of the hurler.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston INF Alex Bregman enters the series riding a 31-game on-base streak.
2. Gordon reached base five times in the recent set versus the Rangers after going for 1-for-9 with four strikeouts in last weekend's set against the Astros.
3. The Royals will play a regular-season game against Detroit in Omaha (Neb.) during the 2019 season, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday.