Tigers at Royals
The American League is a battle at the top, but the bottom of the standings hold their own intrigue. The Kansas City Royals can take a big step towards ensuring they will not finish in the AL Central basement when they host the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday.
Kansas City (49-89) goes into the series 7 1/2 games ahead of the AL-worst Tigers (40-95) and is coming off a series win after taking two of three from the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend as Adalberto Mondesi came off the injured list and delivered four hits and three stolen bases in the rubber match on Sunday. The visit from the Orioles marked the first in a stretch of four straight series against teams with losing records as the Royals look ahead to a road trip to face the Miami Marlins and the Chicago White Sox. Detroit dropped three of four at home to AL Central-leading Minnesota over the weekend and is heading west with a trip to Oakland following the series at Kansas City. The Tigers will kick things off with left-hander Daniel Norris on Tuesday while the Royals counter with lefty Mike Montgomery.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Daniel Norris (3-11, 4.66 ERA) vs. Royals LH Mike Montgomery (3-7, 4.66)
Detroit is keeping Norris' innings low toward the end of the season and held him to three frames in each of his last four outings. The 26-year-old surrendered a total of one run and five hits in nine innings over his last three turns. Norris was not as sharp at home against Kansas City on Aug. 11, when he was reached for four runs on four hits - three home runs - in three innings.
Montgomery is settling in as a member of the rotation since arriving in a trade from the Chicago Cubs in July and allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his last five outings. The 30-year-old was a tough-luck loser against Oakland last Tuesday, when he was reached for two runs - one earned - and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Montgomery started at Detroit on Aug. 10 and scattered four hits over seven scoreless frames while striking out 12 to earn the win.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals RF Jorge Soler needs one home run to break a tie with Mike Moustakas for the franchise record and has hit eight of his 38 on the season against the Tigers.
2. Detroit CF Victor Reyes is 12-for-25 during a six-game hitting streak.
3. Kansas City closer Ian Kennedy allowed a total of one hit in four scoreless innings over his last four appearances.