Rays at Royals
Two teams coming off important victories look to build winning streaks when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Kansas City Royals on Monday to begin a four-game series. The Rays ended a seven-game losing streak with an 8-1 triumph against the New York Yankees on Sunday and the Royals earned only their second win in seven contests by edging Minnesota 3-2 the same afternoon.
Kansas City still owns the best record (46-33) in the American League and leads second-place Minnesota by 4 ½ games in the Central Division after splitting four with the Twins at home. Royals’ third baseman Mike Moustakas -- second on the team with a .301 batting average -- left Sunday’s game due to a family matter and is questionable for Monday. Tampa Bay could also be without Steven Souza Jr., who leads the team with 15 homers, after suffering a cut and bruise on his right pinkie when he was hit by a pitch Sunday. The Rays are 3-11 since reaching a season-high 10 games over .500.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), FSN Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Colome (3-4, 4.70 ERA) vs. Royals RH Edinson Volquez (8-4, 3.48)
Colome is winless in his last eight starts although he has limited opponents to two or fewer runs in half of those outings. The 26-year-old Dominican Republic native, who could be replaced in the rotation when Jake Odorizzi returns from the disabled list soon, gave up five runs over seven frames in a loss to Cleveland last time out. Colome has a 3.62 ERA on the road as opposed to 5.40 at home and will face the Royals for the first time.
Volquez escaped without a decision when he permitted five runs over as many innings at Houston last Wednesday after winning his previous four starts. The 32-year-old Dominican, in his first season with the Royals, surrendered two homers in his last outing after giving up five in his first 15 of the campaign. Asdrubal Cabrera is 3-for-8 with a homer versus Volquez, who is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in three career starts against the Rays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay INF-OF John Jaso, who has been out since the season opener with a wrist injury, could return to the lineup during this series.
2. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon’s solo home run Sunday gave him 508 career RBIs, one behind Willie Wilson for 10th on the team’s all-time list.
3. Rays 3B Evan Longoria is 6-for-17 during a four-game hitting streak and leads the majors in fielding percentage (.978) at his position.