Kansas City @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( May 31, 2015 ) Kansas City 1, Chi. Cubs 2

The Chicago Cubs are hoping Monday's interleague game against the visiting Kansas City Royals is a preview of what's to come in October. Chicago, which will be one of the National League's two wild-card teams, plays its final regular-season home contest versus the American League Central champion Royals in the makeup of a rainout May 30.

The Cubs have a chance to host the wild-card game as they sit 4 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh with seven contests remaining after Sunday night's 4-0 triumph over the Pirates. Kansas City wrapped up the home portion of its schedule Sunday, when it posted a 3-0 victory over Cleveland to salvage the finale of their three-game series. The Royals clinched the Central with a triumph over Seattle on Friday but have gone just 10-15 this month. Kansas City is hoping to make its second consecutive World Series appearance after a 29-year postseason drought as it closes out the regular season with a seven-game road trip.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN Kansas City, CSN Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Yordano Ventura (12-8, 4.40 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (7-7, 4.23)

Ventura settled for a no-decision against Seattle on Wednesday after allowing three runs and six hits in six innings. The 24-year-old Dominican has gone 8-1 in his last 12 outings, giving up three runs or fewer on eight occasions. Ventura made his only career start against the Cubs in Chicago on May 31, when he yielded one run and four hits in seven frames but did not factor in the decision.

Hendricks is coming off a loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday in which he gave up three runs and four hits in six innings. The 25-year-old Californian has won only one of his last eight outings, surrendering three or more runs in all but one of those turns. Hendricks, who is 2-3 with a 3.63 ERA in 14 home starts this season, will be facing Kansas City for the first time in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals are tied with Toronto for the best record in the AL, with the Blue Jays owning the tiebreaker for home-field advantage throughout the AL postseason by virtue of going 4-3 in the season series.

2. Chicago SS/2B Starlin Castro has recorded four multi-hit performances over his last nine games.

3. Kansas City joined the 1919-25 Philadelphia A's as the only teams in major-league history to finish with improved records in six straight seasons.

PREDICTION: Royals 6, Cubs 4