Royals at Tigers
The Kansas City Royals arrived in Detroit owning the worst road record in the major leagues but they have a chance to post their first series win away from home at the expense of their American League Central Division rivals. Kansas City looks to post back-to-back road wins for the second time when it wraps up a three-game set versus the Tigers on Sunday afternoon.
Alex Gordon went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and five RBIs as the Royals posted season highs in runs and hits (19) in Saturday's 15-3 mauling. Adalberto Mondesi had two of his team's eight extra-base hits with a double and a triple and also knocked in three runs as Kansas City beat Detroit for the first time in five meetings. The Tigers have hit the fewest homers in the majors but all their runs came via the long ball as Jeimer Candelario belted a two-run blast and Ronny Rodriguez added a solo shot. Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos extended his hitting streak to eight games for Detroit, which has dropped six of eight and allowed at least seven runs in five of those losses.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Brad Keller (2-3, 4.07 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Spencer Turnbull (2-2, 2.53)
Keller returned from suspension to make his second straight start against Tampa Bay and suffered his second straight loss against the Rays on Monday after giving up five runs over five innings. The 23-year-old opened the season with four consecutive quality starts, but one of them was a loss at Detroit when he surrendered three runs on five hits over six innings on April 7. Keller was 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in five appearances (one start) versus the Tigers in 2018.
Turnbull put together his third straight strong start last time at Philadelphia, matching his season high with six innings and earning his second victory in a row by giving up one run on three hits. In his last three starts, the 26-year-old rookie has permitted a combined two runs (one earned) and eight hits over 17 innings. Turnbull faced Kansas City in his second start of the season on April 4, striking out 10 batters and allowing three runs in six innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals RF Jorge Soler is 6-for-9 with a homer, four RBIs and three runs in the series.
2. The Tigers designated RH Drew VerHagen for assignment after he allowed six runs and three walks in one inning.
3. Royals 3B Kelvin Gutierrez had the first four-hit game by a Kansas City rookie since Christian Colon (2015).