Red Sox at Royals
The Boston Red Sox have snapped out of a funk with back-to-back offensive outbursts and they will try to stretch their winning streak to three when they continue a three-game series at the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The Red Sox were held to three runs or fewer four times during a 2-6 swoon before notching eight runs in each of the last two games, including an 8-3 victory in the series opener against the Royals on Tuesday.
J.D. Martinez had three hits and an RBI while Eduardo Nunez slugged a pinch-hit three-run homer for Boston, which has nine extra-base hits in its two-game winning streak. Right-hander Jakob Junis will be tasked with trying to slow down the Red Sox when he gets the start Wednesday opposite lefty Chris Sale, who will be making his 300th career appearance. Cheslor Cuthbert provided all of the offense for Kansas City on Tuesday with a two-run blast - his second homer in four games since being called up from the minors - and an RBI groundout. The Royals have dropped four straight, seven of their last eight and 10 of their last 12.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (1-7, 4.35 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (4-5, 5.35)
Sale gave up four earned runs - his highest total in a span of eight starts - over six innings in a loss at Yankee Stadium on Friday. The Florida native struck out 10 in the setback, his sixth double-digit effort in that category in the past eight outings. Sale held the Royals to two earned runs across 13 innings last season and owns a 2.87 ERA in 34 career meetings.
Junis has posted back-to-back quality starts for the first time this season and he recorded seven strikeouts in both outings. He snapped a personal three-game losing streak with six innings of two-run ball and a win at Texas on Thursday. The 26-year-old was solid over six frames in a start at Fenway Park last year in his only prior meeting with the Red Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox 3B Rafael Devers has 13 RBIs over his last 13 games.
2. Royals SS Adalberto Mondesi swiped his major league-leading 22nd base in Tuesday's loss.
3. Tuesday began a stretch in which Boston is slated slated to play 17 games in 16 days.