Athletics at Royals
The Oakland Athletics are locked in a battle for an American League wild card spot but are coming off a disappointing weekend. The Athletics will try to pick themselves up on the road when they visit the Kansas City Royals for the opener of a four-game series on Monday.
Oakland started off strong at home and put itself in position to challenge the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians for an AL wild card - taking six of seven from the first-place Houston Astros and New York Yankees - but was swept in a two-game set over the weekend by interleague rival San Francisco while allowing 15 runs. The Athletics, who travel to New York to face the Yankees after visiting the Royals, go into the week a half-game behind Tampa Bay and one game behind Cleveland in the three-team tussle. Kansas City is far removed from postseason contention but did Oakland a solid on Sunday by battling for a 9-8 victory in 10 innings at the Indians, avoiding a three-game sweep. The Royals will send right-hander Brad Keller to the mound on Monday opposite Oakland righty Homer Bailey, who began the season in Kansas City before being traded last month.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Homer Bailey (11-8, 5.06 ERA) vs. Royals RH Brad Keller (7-13, 3.95)
Bailey is coming off two strong starts in a row after holding the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees to a combined one run over 12 2/3 innings while striking out 15. The veteran Texan issued only one walk in those two outings and is 4-2 in seven starts since joining Oakland. Bailey went 3-3 with a 4.81 ERA in nine starts at Kauffman Stadium before being traded.
Keller is winless in his last five starts but is coming off a strong effort at Baltimore on Tuesday, in which he scattered three hits over six scoreless innings but did not factor in the decision. The 24-year-old worked at least six innings in each of his last eight outings and owns six quality starts in that span. Keller saw Oakland once during his 2018 rookie campaign and allowed two runs on five hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings without earning a decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics 1B/OF Mark Canha is 4-for-8 with three home runs in the last two games.
2. Kansas City OF/DH Jorge Soler (36) needs two home runs to tie Mike Moustakas' franchise record.
3. Oakland OF/DH Khris Davis is 1-for-29 over his last nine games.