Tampa Bay @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2015 ) Tampa Bay 0, Kansas City 0

The Tampa Bay Rays look to improve on their major league-best road record when they battle the Kansas City Royals in a split doubleheader on Tuesday. Rain washed out the scheduled opener Monday after the Rays ended a seven-game losing streak with an 8-1 triumph at the New York Yankees on Sunday for their 22nd victory in 36 away from home.

First baseman James Loney has made an impact with his glove and bat for Tampa Bay, going 4-for-13 with three RBIs in three games since returning from a fractured finger. Rays home run leader Steven Souza Jr. (15 blasts) is questionable with a finger injury while Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas, who is second on the team with a .301 average, was placed on the bereavement list Monday. The Royals own the best record (46-33) in the American League despite losing five of their last seven contests. Four Kansas City players – outfielders Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain along with catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Alcides Escobar – will start in next week’s All-Star Game.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Matt Moore (0-0, 7.71 ERA) vs. Royals RH Chris Young (7-4, 2.64)

Moore allowed four runs, six hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings in his 2015 debut last Thursday after returning from Tommy John surgery. “He commanded his fastball,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters. “A couple of pitches got away from him, yanked a couple change-ups, but I think we all came into it knowing there’s a possibility of that happening.” Escobar is 4-for-8 with a homer against Moore, who is 0-2 in three career starts versus the Royals.

Young lost for the second time in three starts last time out but yielded only one run on six hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 2-0 loss to Minnesota. The 6-10 Texas native has limited opponents to one earned run or less in eight of his 11 starts after starting the season in the bullpen. Loney is 8-for-22 with three doubles versus Young, who is 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay RHPs Chris Archer (nine wins, 141 strikeouts) and Brad Boxberger (20 saves) were named the AL All-Star team.

2. Kansas City 1B-DH Kendrys Morales has cooled off of late with just five hits in 30 at-bats with 10 strikeouts in his last eight games.

3. In addition to the four starters, RHPs Wade Davis (nine saves, 0.25 ERA) and Kelvin Herrera (0.98 WHIP) were selected to the AL All-Star squad.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Royals 3