Royals at Tigers
The Detroit Tigers have won back-to-back games for the first time since the end of May and will try to make it three in row when they host the struggling Kansas City Royals in the third of a four-game series Saturday night. Catcher Jake Rogers launched his third homer in nine games since being recalled for the first time as Detroit knocked off Kansas City 5-2 on Friday, earning its ninth win in 14 meetings during the season series.
Jordy Mercer had a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to six games (11-for-22, two homers, five RBIs) and teammate Dawel Lugo has hit safely in five straight contests for the Tigers after recording three singles and two RBIs in Friday’s victory. Right-hander Spencer Turnbull looks for his first victory since May 31, which capped Detroit’s last three-game winning streak at the time, and lefty Mike Montgomery gets his fifth start for the Royals as he looks for his first win with the club. Jorge Soler belted his team-leading 32nd homer Friday and is 5-for-12 with three blasts and five runs scored in his last four outings for Kansas City, which has lost nine of its last 10 contests and is just four games (two in the loss column) ahead of the last-place Tigers in the American League Central. All-Star Whit Merrifield had an inside-the-park homer Friday and is 9-for-21 during his current five-game hitting streak for the Royals.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Mike Montgomery (1-5, 6.02 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Spencer Turnbull (3-9, 3.72)
Montgomery gave up four runs (two earned) on seven hits - two homers - over a season high-tying five innings against Boston on Monday to record his third loss in four outings with the team. The 30-year-old California native has allowed 14 runs (12 earned) on 25 hits across 16 1/3 innings in four starts since coming over from the Chicago Cubs. Mercer is 4-for-9 with a double and a homer versus Montgomery, who is 0-3 with a 9.58 ERA on the road this season.
Turnbull is winless in his last eight starts despite permitting three runs or fewer runs in six of those outings, including six scoreless innings at Kansas City on June 11. The 26-year-old University of Alabama product needed 76 pitches to get through three innings Monday against the Chicago White Sox, yielding two runs and two hits. Soler is 4-for-11 with three doubles against Turnbull, who is 0-0 with a 2.86 ERA in four starts versus the Royals this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kansas City’s Ned Yost became the 34th manager in major-league history to participate in 2,500 games Friday.
2. The Tigers released INF Josh Harrison and RHP Sandy Baez on Friday while optioning LHP Blaine Hardy to Triple-A Toledo.
3. The Royals recalled LHP Eric Skoglund and optioned RHP Kyle Zimmer to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.