Tigers at Royals
The Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals are both in rebuilding mode and looking to stay out of the basement in the American League Central. The Tigers are holding the Royals off for now and will try to continue to stay a step ahead when they visit Kansas City for the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday.
Detroit (24-38) is 5 1/2 games ahead of the Royals (20-45) but is not feeling great about itself after dropping six of its last eight games, capped by a 12-2 loss to the first-place Minnesota Twins on Sunday that finished off a rough homestand. "We knew this was going to be tough," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters. "...All we can do is keep competing and trying. We've got infielders all over the place, outfielders all over the place. We've got basically four starters. It's a challenge right now." Kansas City is enduring its own challenges and enters the series with losses in eight of the last nine games - a span in which it scored two or fewer runs six times. The Royals will try to string some hits together on Tuesday against Tigers right-hander Spencer Turnbull while countering with righty Jakob Junis.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Spencer Turnbull (3-5, 3.01 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (4-6, 5.63)
Turnbull allowed three or fewer earned runs in 12 of his 13 starts but only completed six or more innings in 12 of those outings. The 26-year-old needed 92 pitches to get through five frames against Tampa Bay on Wednesday and was charged with three runs on five hits and three walks in the loss. Turnbull managed to get through six innings in each of his two starts against Kansas City this season, including a seven-inning gem at home on May 5 in which he struck out seven and allowed one run.
Junis is looking to bounce back after getting knocked around for six runs - five earned - on eight hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings by the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The 26-year-old posted quality starts in each of his previous two outings, surrendering a total of five runs in 12 innings to the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. Junis lost a start at Detroit on April 4, when he was reached for three runs and six hits in six innings while striking out eight.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tigers OF JaCoby Jones hit safely in 14 of the last 15 games.
2. The top three hitters in the Kansas City lineup - Whit Merrifield, Alex Gordon and Adalberto Mondesi - combined to go 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
3. Wednesday's series finale will be played in Omaha, Neb., at the site of the College World Series.