Royals at Marlins
Jorge Soler set the Kansas City Royals' single-season home run record days ago, and the young slugger may just put the mark out of reach for awhile. Soler homered again - his 41st - and scored twice in the Royals' 7-2 win over the host Miami Marlins on Saturday and will try to lead his team to a sweep of the three-game series Sunday afternoon.
Rookie Ryan McBroom chipped in three RBIs on Saturday for Kansas City, which is aiming for its first sweep since a two-gamer at Atlanta in July. Winners of six of their last seven overall, the Royals give the ball to lefty Mike Montgomery on Sunday. The Kansas City staff has allowed two total runs on 11 hits in the series, with Danny Duffy and three relievers combining on a four-hitter Saturday. Sandy Alcantara will hope for a little more support when he starts the series finale for the Marlins, who have dropped five of their last six at home.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Mike Montgomery (3-7, 4.42 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-12, 4.26)
Montgomery allowed one or zero earned runs in four of his last five starts, including Tuesday against Detroit in which he let up a run over 5 2/3 innings. He has 29 strikeouts against nine walks in that span, including an interleague outing against the New York Mets in which the 30-year-old yielded one unearned run in six frames. Montgomery sports a 1.93 ERA in seven career games (one start) against the Marlins.
Alcantara finished at least seven innings in four of his last five outings but has an 0-2 record to show for it. He let up just three hits but was reached for four runs in a no-decision at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Dominican Republic native, who turned 24 on Saturday, will be facing the Royals for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Soler has six home runs and 13 RBIs over his last 13 games.
2. Marlins C Jorge Alfaro is 16-for-29 over his last eight home contests.
3. Kansas City has won six of eight all time in Miami.