Rays at Royals
Yandy Diaz has been driving in runs on a regular basis of late and hopes to continue doing so when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday for the second contest of their four-game series. Diaz has recorded at least one RBI in six straight games after plating two runs in Monday's 8-5 triumph.
The 27-year-old Cuban has collected half of his career-high 18 RBIs during the streak and is 10 shy of matching the total from his first two years in the major leagues with Cleveland. Tommy Pham and Ji-Man Choi also recorded two RBIs as every player in the lineup registered a hit for the Rays, who have started 3-0 on their nine-game road trip after winning two of three against Kansas City at home last week. Jorge Soler homered and Adalberto Mondesi went 2-for-4 with two RBIs as the Royals fell to 1-3 on their seven-game homestand. Mondesi has driven in eight runs over his last five contests and recorded five multi-hit performances in his last eight games.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (2-2, 2.54 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (2-2, 5.57)
Redemption will be on the mind of Snell, who yielded three runs on five hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings in a loss to Kansas City on Wednesday. It was the shortest outing of the season for the 26-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner after he allowed a total of one run over 19 frames in his previous three turns. The setback dropped Snell to 1-2 with a 4.40 ERA in three career starts against the Royals.
Junis notched the victory opposite Snell last week, allowing one run and four hits in five innings before a line drive off his throwing hand ended his outing. The solid effort was much needed by the 26-year-old native of Illinois as he surrendered 14 runs over 15 2/3 frames in his previous three starts. Junis improved to 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance against Tampa Bay with the win.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays have outscored their opponents 29-4 in the first inning this season.
2. Kansas City DH Hunter Dozier is riding an eight-game hitting streak during which he has gone 13-for-25.
3. Tampa Bay optioned 3B Christian Arroyo to Triple-A Durham and purchased the contract of 1B Nate Lowe, who went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored while serving as the DH on Monday in his major-league debut.