Milwaukee @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 16, 2015 ) Kansas City 7, Milwaukee 2

The Kansas City Royals racked up 30 hits while winning two games in Milwaukee and aim to remain productive Wednesday when the Brewers arrive for the first of two games in Kansas City. The Royals scored 15 runs while notching the two victories and have won six of their last eight games while continuing to possess the best record in the American League.

Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez is enjoying a hot stretch and his two-hit outing Tuesday was his second straight in the series and his fifth in his last six games. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain has homered and drove in two runs in each game and has a modest seven-game hitting streak. Milwaukee has lost four consecutive games and right fielder Ryan Braun is 1-for-15 with six strikeouts during the stretch. Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy is showing signs of getting his bat moving with three consecutive two-hit outings — including four RBIs in the two games against the Royals — to raise his average 35 points to .229.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Mike Fiers (3-6, 4.04) vs. Royals RH Joe Blanton (0-0, 1.80)

Fiers has won two of his past three decisions after getting off to a 1-5 start. He defeated Washington in his last start when he struck out eight and allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings. Fiers has struck out 80 in 69 innings but has served up nine homers and has a 1.51 WHIP.

Blanton is starting a major-league game for the first time since 2013 when he went 2-14 in 28 appearances (20 starts) for the Los Angeles Angels. He has made seven relief appearances for Kansas City and is starting due to Jason Vargas (forearm) going on the disabled list. The 34-year-old Blanton is 2-1 with a 4.96 ERA in five career starts against Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals 3B Mike Moustakas, who homered Tuesday, is 4-for-7 with three walks in the series.

2. Milwaukee 1B Adam Lind has just two RBIs since driving in six against Minnesota on June 5.

3. Kansas City 2B Omar Infante is 5-for-8 with four runs scored in the series after experiencing a 5-for-62 slump.

PREDICTION: Brewers 7, Royals 6