Tampa Bay @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 2, Kansas City 8

The Kansas City Royals didn't exactly have a head of steam entering their series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Royals were manhandled in a three-game sweep by intrastate rival St. Louis, getting outscored 30-14, but they have bounced back with a vengeance to rout the Rays on back-to-back nights. Kansas City still owns the worst home record in baseball at 13-23, but it will look to sweep a three-game set from Tampa Bay for the first time since May 2001.

While the Royals got a three-run homer from Jeff Francouer and a two-run shot by Yuniesky Betancourt on Tuesday, the Rays have done next to nothing offensively in the seies. They were shut out in Monday's 8-0 beating before scraping together two runs on six hits in Tuesday's 8-2 loss. Tampa Bay has dropped five of its last seven to fall 5 1/2 games behind the American League East Division-leading New York Yankees.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tampa Bay LH Matt Moore (4-5, 4.13 ERA) vs. Kansas City LH Everett Teaford (0-1, 5.73 ERA).

Moore had won three consecutive starts and was coming off his best performance of the year before losing a 3-2 decision at Washington his last time out. He struggled with his control and was done after throwing 93 pitches in five innings. The 23-year-old lefty has walked at least four batters in five starts and has reached seven innings only twice in 14 starts this year.

Teaford is expected to be called up from Triple-A Omaha for his second stint of the season. He made three appearances (one start) and allowed seven runs on 11 hits while walking seven in 11 innings. Teaford has pitched well at Omaha, logging a 4-0 record and 1.09 ERA in seven appearances (six starts). He threw six scoreless innings in his last outing.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals have scored eight runs in three consecutive games after reaching that total only four times in the first 69 games.

2. In five games since signing with the Rays, 2B Brooks Conrad is 5-for-13 with a homer, two doubles and six RBIs.

3. Royals SS Alcides Escobar is batting .389 (23-for-59) in his last 16 games.