Detroit @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2012 ) Detroit 8, Kansas City 9
After wasting a chance to gain ground in the tight American League Central race Tuesday night, the Detroit Tigers hope to resume their dominance over the Kansas City Royals when they send Anibal Sanchez to the mound in the second of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium. The Tigers had won seven of eight meetings this season before losing a wild 9-8 decision in the series opener.
The Royals roughed up ace Justin Verlander, and now its up to Sanchez to cool the bats that produced 15 hits Tuesday, when Kansas City's Nos. 2-6 hitters each had at least two hits and one RBI. Detroit missed a chance to gain on the Chicago White Sox, who maintained a two-game lead in the division. The Tigers are two games behind Baltimore and Oakland in the wild-card race.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, Fox Sports Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Anibal Sanchez (2-3, 6.33 ERA) vs. Royals LH Bruce Chen (9-10, 5.41)
Sanchez has not been the pitcher Detroit hoped it was getting when it acquired him from Miami, but he showed signs of coming around in his last outing, holding Toronto to two runs (one earned) over 6 2/3 innings. It was just his second quality start in five outings for the Tigers. Sanchez has never faced the Royals.
Chen rolled his ankle while shagging fly balls before Monday's game, but the injury isn't expected to keep him from making his scheduled start. The veteran left-hander pitched well Friday at Boston, allowing three runs over six innings in a no-decision. He has recorded quality starts in three of his last four outings. Chen is 4-5 with a 6.10 ERA in 15 games (13 starts) against Detroit; he has lost both of his starts against the Tigers this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kansas City OF Alex Gordon leads the majors with 44 doubles and is hitting .297. Gordon started the season 0-for-17 and didn't get his average above .200 until April 26.
2. The Tigers have won or split their past five series in Kansas City dating to June 4-6, 2010, when the Royals took two of three.
3. Royals OF Jeff Francoeur is familiar with Sanchez from their time in the National League together, and Francoeur is 8-for-26 (.308) with a homer against the righty.