Kansas City @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 8, 2011 ) Kansas City 1, Tampa Bay 2

THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Rays have struggled on offense at times this season, but they have found a way to produce seven walk-off victories. Two of those have come in the last five games as they cling to their long-shot hopes of playing in the postseason. The Rays will send James Shields to the mound against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. He is looking to take over the team lead with 11 wins. Tampa Bay has won seven of its last 11 and are 9 ½ games behind the Yankees in the wild-card race. The Royals have lost three of four. The teams have split four games this season with three games left.

TV: 7:10 p.m. EST; FS-KC (Kansas City), SunSports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Jeff Francis (4-11, 4.48 ERA) vs. Rays RH James Shields (10-9, 2.95 ERA).

Francis gave up four runs and 10 hits over five innings in his last start against Baltimore Thursday, but did not get a decision. Two starts earlier in his first-ever outing against the Rays, he allowed nine hits and three runs in five innings without a decision. Francis has just 26 walks in 140 2/3 innings. Desmond Jennings had a double, triple and a walk in three at-bats against Francis on July 23.

Shields rebounded from his worst start of the season by beating Toronto on Wednesday, allowing three hits and one run over 7 1/3 innings. He has 159 strikeouts, 28 short of his career high, in 167 2/3 innings. Shields is 5-2 lifetime against Kansas City with a 4.02 ERA over 53 2/3 innings. Billy Butler is 7-for-14 with three RBIs against Shields.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (49-66): Alex Gordon, the second overall pick in the 2005 draft, showed flashes his first four seasons in the majors. Now he is starting to show he could be a star on a consistent basis in the leadoff spot. Gordon is among the league leaders with 35 doubles and is batting .304 with 14 homers and 58 RBIs. His career bests in the majors are .260, 16 homers and 60 RBIs. He already has a career-high 137 hits. Gordon belted a double for his first hit at Tropicana Field on Monday, after going 0-for-37. Jeff Francoeur also had a hit and is 8-for-20 the last five games.

ABOUT THE RAYS (60-54): Tampa Bay may not be able to climb back into the playoff race, but Casey Kotchman looks like he may just make an improbable run at the American League batting title. Kotchman is 16-for-32 the last eight games and is batting .341, second only to Adrian Gonzalez of the Red Sox (.350). Kotchman, who started the season in the minor leagues, has seven multi-RBI games and the Rays are 7-0 in them. B.J. Upton, who was 0-for-9 after reaching base in seven straight at-bats, rebounded with two hits Monday.

FINAL PITCH: The Royals are now 12-12 against American League East teams, four of which are over .500. Kansas City will play 13 of the next 16 against AL East opponents.