Royals at Tigers
Jorge Soler is on track to become the new single-season home run leader for the Kansas City Royals, and the 27-year-old outfielder looks to continue his latest power surge in the finale of a four-game series with the host Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Soler launched his fourth homer in five games during Saturday’s 7-0 victory to pull within five of the franchise record set by Mike Moustakas (38) in 2017.
Soler had just 38 homers in parts of five seasons coming into 2019 but is among the league leaders with 33 blasts and 82 RBIs after Kansas City won for just the second time in 11 games Saturday to give itself a chance to even the series. Right-hander Jakob Junis boasts a 6-1 record and a 3.19 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Tigers going into Sunday’s matchup, while Detroit will send left-hander Daniel Norris to the mound looking for his fourth win and just a second since May 12. The major league-worst Tigers won three of the previous four contests and had a chance for their first three-game winning streak since the end of May before managing six hits Saturday but can take the season series (currently 9-6) with a victory Sunday. Jordy Mercer saw his six-game hitting streak end for Detroit, although he is 11-for-25 over his past seven outings, and teammate Victor Reyes is 5-for-12 in the series.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jakob Junis (7-10, 4.88 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Daniel Norris (3-9, 4.76)
Junis has completed at least six innings in six straight outings after limiting Boston to one run over six frames with four strikeouts in a victory last Tuesday. The 26-year-old Illinois native has held opponents to two or fewer runs in four of his last six appearances and is 4-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 11 road starts this year. John Hicks is 4-for-9 with a homer versus Junis, who is 0-0 with a 3.46 ERA over 13 innings with 13 strikeouts against Detroit in 2019.
Norris gave up four runs on seven hits (two homers) over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday after spinning five scoreless frames to beat the Los Angeles Angels six days earlier. The 26-year-old Tennessee native has pitched a little better in five starts since the All-Star break (1-1, 4.05 ERA) than he had prior to it (2-8, 4.96). Whit Merrifield is 7-for-19 with five extra-base hits (three homers) against Norris, who has a 5.63 ERA in eight innings versus Kansas City this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit RF Travis Demeritte is 6-for-17 during a five-game hitting streak after going 2-for-17 in his first five big league contests.
2. Merrifield had two hits and two RBIs on Saturday, improving to 11-for-25 during his six-game hitting streak.
3. Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera needs one homer to break the tie with Carlos Delgado (473) for 33rd in major-league history.