Detroit @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2012 ) Detroit 0, Kansas City 1
With one of the biggest series of their season looming this weekend, the Detroit Tigers need to turn things around and avoid a three-game road sweep at the hands of the pesky Kansas City Royals. The Royals have won the first two games of the series, roughing up Jason Verlander in the opener and getting a gem from Bruce Chen on Wednesday. They'll try to finish their first three-game sweep of Detroit since Sept. 8-10, 2009.
The Royals have grown accustomed to playing spoiler - they swept a three-game set from the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox earlier this month. The Tigers are three games behind the White Sox and two games back of Baltimore for the final wild-card spot.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, Fox Sports Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Rick Porcello (9-9, 4.60 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (2-3, 4.32)
Porcello's next win will give him double-digit victories in each of his first four seasons in the majors, but he has been denied that milestone with three straight losses. His last two outings have been quality starts, but he got little run support. Porcello held Kansas City to three runs over eight innings in a win May 1 in Detroit, improving to 5-2 with a 4.56 ERA in 12 starts against the Royals.
Guthrie seemed to enjoy his change of scenery when he came over from Colorado in the deal that sent Jonathan Sanchez to the Rockies, but his good fortune ran out Saturday at Boston as he allowed seven runs (six earned) in 2 2/3 innings. The disastrous outing ended a streak of four straight quality starts. Guthrie is 3-3 with a 4.18 ERA in 11 games (eight starts) against the Tigers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The first two games of the series have been one-run affairs in favor of the Royals, who are 22-16 in one-run games. Detroit is 17-19 in one-run contests.
2. Royals OF Alex Gordon, who is riding a seven-game hitting streak, is 7-for-23 (.304) with four RBIs against Porcello.
3. Kansas City RHP Greg Holland has been outstanding since taking over the closer's role Aug. 1. He has allowed one run over 14 1/3 innings and converted all nine save chances in 13 appearances this month.