Kansas City @ Tampa Bay preview

Kansas City at Tampa Bay

Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 4, Kansas City 5

The Tampa Bay Rays return home from a wildly successful road trip to begin a three-game series against the equally hot Kansas City Royals. Tampa Bay finished its 10-game trek by completing a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. The Rays, who sit atop the American League wild-card standings, have won 11 of their last 13 overall.

Kansas City also enters on the heels of a sweep as it extended its winning streak against the Chicago White Sox to five games by taking all three in their weekend series at home. The Royals, who are beginning a seven-game trip, have won four of six on the road and nine of 12 overall. Both clubs have received major contributions from their bullpens. Kansas City's relief corps leads the major leagues with 413 strikeouts, while Tampa Bay's Fernando Rodney leads all relievers in saves (38) and ERA (0.79) and J.P. Howell is riding a franchise-record scoreless streak of 24 2/3 innings.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Kansas City), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Will Smith (4-4, 5.09 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (7-8, 3.39)

Smith will be making his 10th career start. He has won each of his last two outings, including a seven-inning performance against Oakland on Wednesday in which he allowed two runs and five hits. The 23-year-old, who is 3-1 in five road starts, will be facing Tampa Bay for the first time.

Hellickson suffered his second loss in three starts Wednesday despite yielding just one run and five hits over seven innings at Seattle. The 2011 AL Rookie of the Year was bested by Felix Hernandez, who tossed the first perfect game in Mariners history. Hellickson, who is 3-6 at home, has allowed one run over 8 1/3 frames in two career games - one start - against Kansas City.

WALK-OFFS

1. After being victim to the perfect game by Hernandez, Tampa Bay responded with a franchise-record 37 runs in the four-game series against the Angels.

2. Rays C Jose Molina recorded his second stolen base on the road trip Sunday and third of the season. He is one shy of matching his career high set in 2004 with the Angels.

3. Kansas City had not swept a three-game series against the White Sox since 2003.