Arizona @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2011 ) Arizona 3, Kansas City 2

THE STORY: Arizona looks to cap a three-game road sweep when it plays at Kansas City on Thursday night. The Diamondbacks pulled away for a 7-2 victory in Tuesday's opener before holding on for a 3-2 win on Wednesday. Willie Bloomquist's RBI single in the sixth inning put the visitors ahead and closer J.J. Putz escaped a ninth-inning jam after allowing the tying and winning runs to reach base with two out.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network (national), Fox Sports (Arizona), Fox Sports (Kansas City)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Daniel Hudson (8-5, 3.56) vs. Royals RH Felipe Paulino (0-4, 4.10)

Hudson has been on a roll of late, allowing just three runs and 14 hits over his last 22 innings of work while striking out 19. He went the distance in a June 17 win over the Chicago White Sox, surrendering one run on three hits. Since the end of April, Hudson is 7-1 with a stellar 2.59 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 54:12. He has not fared well in two career games (one start) against the Royals, allowing six earned runs in 5 1/3 innings with a WHIP of 1.88.

Though he remains winless on the season, Paulino has pitched well since coming over from Colorado in late May. In five games with the Royals (including four starts), he has given up just seven earned runs in 27 innings (2.33). Paulino took all four of his losses while in the bullpen with the Rockies, where his ERA was an unimpressive 7.36. One of those defeats came May 3 at Arizona, one of two relief appearances this season against the Diamondbacks (2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER).

ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (41-34): Back on top in the National League West, Arizona boasts one of the most explosive offenses in baseball, but the pitching has been holding up its end of the deal of late. RHP Ian Kennedy (8-2, 2.90) has given up just two runs in his last 14 innings, and even previously struggling RHP Joe Saunders (4-7, 4.35) has four wins and five quality starts in his last seven games. Putz (19 saves, 2.61 ERA) has been the anchor at the back of the bullpen, while David Hernandez (3-2, 10 holds, 2.57) has been a dependable setup man.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (31-43): Kansas City's pitching struggles have caught up with it in the past month and a half, as the team has limped to an 11-26 record since May 12. The Royals fell Wednesday despite Jeff Francis providing a rare quality start, just their 33rd in 74 games. The staff ranks last in the American League in that category as well as ERA, WHIP, and opponent batting average, and the bullpen has converted just 13 of 23 save opportunities. Kansas City's top starter, LHP Bruce Chen (4-1, 3.59), is expected to start on Friday after sitting since May 5 with a strained upper back muscle.

FINAL PITCH: The Royals nearly ran their way into a win on Wednesday when Chris Getz stole second and third base to put the tying run 90 feet away from home in the ninth inning. Kansas City leads the major leagues with 75 stolen bases this season.