Kansas City @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 9, 2012 ) Boston 3, Kansas City 4

Jon Lester has been a disappointment but is coming off back-to-back solid outings as he takes the mound Friday when the Boston Red Sox open a four-game home series against the Kansas City Royals. Lester’s two victorious starts followed up a stretch of five straight losses. Kansas City has won six of its last nine. Boston has lost four straight and fell 14-13 to the Los Angeles Angels in 10 innings on Thursday.

The Red Sox joined the Washington Nationals as the only teams to lose twice this season when scoring 10 or more runs. Dustin Pedroia had five RBIs and also had four hits for the first time since last September. Boston hopes to activate designated hitter David Ortiz (Achilles’ tendon) from the disabled list Friday. Ortiz (23 homers) hasn’t played since July 16. Kansas City All-Star Billy Butler’s next homer will be the 100th of his career. Only 11 players have hit 100 homers as a member of the Royals. Starter Bruce Chen is shooting to reach double digits in victories for the third straight season, which would make him the first Kansas City left-hander to achieve that since Charlie Leibrandt won 10 or more in five straight seasons from 1984-88.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City, New England Sports Network (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Bruce Chen (9-10, 5.45 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester 7-10, 5.03)

Chen’s career high for wins is 13 in 2005. He defeated the Chicago White Sox in his last outing by allowing two runs and five hits in six innings. Chen defeated the Red Sox on May 9 when he gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings. He is 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA in 17 career appearances (10 starts) against Boston.

Lester allowed one run and five hits in seven innings while beating the New York Yankees in his last outing. In his previous start, he struck out a season-best 12 – one shy of his career high – in six innings while limiting the Cleveland Indians to one run and three hits. Lester lost to Kansas City in May but is 5-2 with a tidy 1.35 ERA in eight career starts against the Royals.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox have lost 11 of 15 games after blowing a 6-0 lead in Thursday’s loss.

2. Kansas City OF Alex Gordon is hitless in 11 career at-bats against Lester and has fanned six times.

3. Boston CF Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits Thursday after being in a 3-for-25 funk.