Yankees at Royals (Game 1)
The New York Yankees have been taking advantage of struggling teams for the better part of May to build a 2 1/2-game lead in the American League East. The Yankees will take on another such opponent beginning Saturday, when they visit the Kansas City Royals for a split doubleheader after Friday's scheduled series opener was rained out.
New York was 2 1/2 games out of first place in the East at the end of last month but has feasted on the likes of Seattle and Baltimore since May 6 to emerge with one of the best records in the AL (32-17). The Yankees have won six straight series and improved to 15-4 over that time following Thursday's 6-5 road victory over the Orioles, completing a four-game sweep after Aaron Hicks drew a tiebreaking, bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning. New York brings a five-game winning streak into Kansas City, which dropped three of four when the teams met last month. The AL Central-worst Royals split a doubleheader in St. Louis on Wednesday but have not played four of the last five days due to severe storms in the Missouri area.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH J.A. Happ (3-3, 5.16 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (3-5, 5.69)
Happ was fortunate to come away with a no-decision Monday in Baltimore after getting pounded for six runs on nine hits - including a pair of homers - and a walk over 3 2/3 innings. The Northwestern product has particularly struggled keeping the ball in the park this month, allowing two home runs in three of his four outings. Alex Gordon (5-for-16, one homer) and Whit Merrifield (1-for-11, one) have had varying degrees of success against Happ, who is 4-3 with a 4.13 ERA in eight career starts versus Kansas City.
Junis suffered his third loss in as many starts Saturday after yielding five runs and six hits - two homers - over a season-high seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels. The former 29th-round draft pick hasn't served up a home run in his last two turns at home, as each of the last seven blasts he has surrendered have been on the road. Hicks is 5-for-5 and Gleyber Torres 3-for-7 against Junis, who permitted five runs - four earned - and six hits over 5 1/3 innings in a road loss to the Yankees on April 19.
WALK-OFFS
1. Torres, who drew a walk as a pinch-hitter and scored the eventual game-winning run on Thursday, is batting .405 with seven homers, 10 RBIs and 11 runs scored during his 11-game hitting streak.
2. Kansas City SS Adalberto Mondesi's 17 stolen bases are more than the season totals of seven teams.
3. New York is averaging 9.4 runs over its last five contests after scoring 3.3 per game over its previous nine.