Kansas City at Detroit - May 4^th 2019 4:10 PM ^ET Preview

The Detroit Tigers have a chance to make a move up in standings with a favorable portion of their schedule featuring a slew of opponents with losing records and 16 of their next 26 games at home, beginning with this weekend's series versus the Kansas City Royals. After taking the series opener, Detroit can reach the .500 mark Saturday when it continues a three-game set versus the Royals.

Ronny Rodríguez had two hits and two RBIs on Friday to help the Tigers build an early four-run lead and hold in for a 4-3 victory to improve to 4-0 against Kansas City this season. Miguel Cabrera collected three hits and an RBI to continue a resurgence that has seen him go 13-for-37 over the past nine games. Jorge Soler sparked a belated comeback for the Royals by going 3-for-3 with his eighth home run and a sacrifice fly. It was the 10th defeat in 14 games for Kansas City, which fell to a major league-worst 3-11 on the road.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Homer Bailey (2-3, 5.70 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Tyson Ross (1-3, 4.03)

Bailey had a rocky first inning for his second straight start, although he gave the Royals six frames and was charged with four runs on six hits while not walking a batter for the first time in his six outings. He lasted only one inning at Tampa Bay in his previous turn, which followed a pair of stellar starts in which he earned two victories by allowing a combined one run and five hits. Niko Goodrum has homered in three at-bats versus Bailey, who is 0-1 with a 3.07 ERA in a pair of starts against Detroit.

Ross was reinstated from the paternity list on Friday and will make his first start since April 24 at Boston, when he took the loss by giving up four runs and seven hits over five innings. The 32-year-old pitched at least six innings in his previous three turns and had his best outing when he tossed a season-high seven innings and allowed one run on five hits while striking out eight to beat Kansas City 3-1 on April 7. Ross has stymied Alex Gordon and Martin Maldonado, who are both hitless in seven at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers RHP Shane Greene converted his 13th save in as many chances.

2. Soler is 6-for-15 with two homers and four RBIs versus Detroit this season.

3. Tigers RF Nicholas Castellanos has hit safely in seven straight games.