Royals at Marlins
Kansas City is among the worst teams in baseball but that hasn't prevented Whit Merrifield from continuing to be a machine at the plate. The second baseman, whose 181 hits lead baseball after pacing the majors with 182 last season, tries for more when the Royals begin a six-game trip with the first of three against the similarly unsuccessful Miami Marlins on Friday.
Merrifield is 8-for-14 in his last three contests after matching a season high with four hits in Thursday's 6-4 loss to Detroit that snapped Kansas City's season-high four-game winning streak. Merrifield is attempting to become the first player since Ichiro Suzuki (2006-10) to lead baseball in hits in consecutive seasons. The Marlins, who like the Royals are heading for a 100-loss season, head home on a high note with Thursday's 10-7 victory at Pittsburgh giving it two road wins in its last three contests after losing 15 straight away from Marlins Park. The Royals' Jorge Lopez on Friday makes his second straight start and fourth in his last six appearances and opposes Pablo Lopez, who lost his last two outings.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jorge Lopez (2-7, 6.61 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (5-7, 4.89)
Jorge Lopez received a no-decision after allowing four runs, four hits (two home runs) and two walks with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of Kansas City's 7-5 victory over Baltimore on Saturday. The 26-year-old Puerto Rican has been used in virtually every role this season as he's recorded a save and a blown save among his 21 relief appearances (34 games). Miami's Curtis Granderson belted a grand slam last season playing for Toronto against Jorge Lopez.
Pablo Lopez allowed a season-high three homers in giving up six runs and six hits in three innings of a 7-0 loss at Washington on Saturday. The 23-year-old Venezuelan was 3-0 with a 2.27 ERA in six starts before yielding four runs in five innings of a 6-3 setback to Cincinnati on Aug. 26. Pablo Lopez, who has not faced Kansas City or any of its players, boasts a 1.16 WHIP and .245 batting average against in 84 2/3 innings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Royals have used 50 players this season (29 pitchers) - their most since 2006.
2. Marlins 2B Starlin Castro is 15-for-33 with four home runs, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored during an eight-game hitting streak.
3. Kansas City leads the series 8-7. The clubs last met in 2016, when the Royals won two of three in Miami.