Kansas City @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( May 2, 2012 ) Kansas City 3, Detroit 2

The Detroit Tigers have had trouble sustaining any positive momentum over the past two months but have a chance to go into the All-Star break on a positive note if they can top the visiting Kansas City Royals this weekend. Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera have combined to drive in 10 runs in back-to-back wins and Austin Jackson is riding a 12-game hitting streak. The Royals recorded a season-high 16 hits in a win on Thursday.

Kansas City has dropped five of seven but has to be encouraged by Thursday’s 9-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Salvador Perez extended his hitting streak to 11 games by tying a career high with four hits in the win. Detroit needs to take two of three to ensure a .500 record at the break and will be hoping to pull even on Friday. The Tigers had to scramble to earn a split of a four-game series against lowly Minnesota this week, as Cabrera and Fielder provided the late-inning heroics.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSKC (Kansas City), FSD (Detroit)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Jonathan Sanchez (1-4, 6.80 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Drew Smyly (3-3, 4.54 ERA)

Sanchez has not provide the sort of return for which Kansas City was hoping when it sent Melky Cabrera to San Francisco in exchange for the left-hander in the offseason. While Cabrera is getting ready to start in next week’s All-Star Game in Kansas City, Sanchez is winless since April 8. The one exception to Sanchez’s struggles against the American League has been the Tigers, against whom the 29-year-old has posted a 1.80 ERA in two starts.

Smyly won his last start but only lasted five innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. The rookie left-hander posted a 1.59 ERA in his first six starts but has seen that number rise to 7.09 in his last eight turns. Smyly has yet to record an out in the seventh inning in the majors. One of his best outings came against the Royals on April 17, when he allowed just one unearned run in six frames.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Tigers RHP Max Scherzer, who missed his last start with a hamstring strain, is on schedule to start Sunday’s series finale.

2. Detroit is in the middle of a stretch of five straight games against left-handed starters. Wins in the first two improved the team to 10-13 against lefties.

3. Royals closer Jonathan Broxton missed out on the final roster spot in next Tuesday’s All-Star Game, losing the vote to Texas Rangers RHP Yu Darvish.