Detroit @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 15, 2011 ) Kansas City 0, Detroit 0
THE STORY: The Detroit Tigers have hit an offensive slump lately that has stalled their efforts to chase down the Central Division-leading Cleveland Indians. But a trip to Kansas City to face the Royals and their American League-worst ERA could be just the thing to resume their pursuit of the Indians. The teams begin a four-game series Thursday
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (9-4, 4.90 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (1-3, 5.09).
Scherzer is coming off one of his worst outings of the year after allowing nine runs (six earned) in two innings of a 15-3 loss to San Francisco on Saturday. It was only the second time all season Scherzer failed to last at least five innings. Scherzer is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA in six starts against the Royals. He beat them April 8, allowing one run over six innings in a 5-2 win. Duffy, a highly touted rookie, has had mixed results since being called up May 18. He was far from his best Friday at Colorado, allowing five runs in five innings. The Rockies tagged him for two home runs, running his total to nine homers allowed in 46 innings. Duffy has never faced the Tigers.
ABOUT THE TIGERS (46-42): Detroit was able to avoid a three-game sweep and keep pace with Cleveland by beating the Angels 5-4 on Wednesday. The Tigers broke out of an offensive funk - they scored one run in the first two games of the series - as Miguel Cabrera hit his team-leading 18th home run. The Tigers need the offensive uptick to continue as they have lost six of nine and scored three runs or fewer five times during that span.
ABOUT THE ROYALS (36-51): The Royals wrapped up a rough road trip on a good note as they took two of three from the White Sox with a 4-1 victory Wednesday. They went 3-6 on the trip after losing their first five games, but are 5-12 in their last 17 games. Rookie first baseman Eric Hosmer continues to impress. He hit his eighth home run in 54 major league games Wednesday and has three home runs in his past four games.
FINAL PITCH: The Tigers hope to get outfielder Brennan Boesch back soon. He was scratched from the lineup Wednesday after fouling a pitch off his right knee Tuesday. Boesch has been one of the team's hottest hitters, batting .392 (47-for-120) with eight homers and 15 RBIs in 31 games since June 3.