New York @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 15, 2011 ) NY Yankees 7, Kansas City 4

THE STORY: With 43 games remaining in the regular season, the New York Yankees have pulled into a dead heat with Boston atop the American League East. While the teams sport identical 73-46 records, the Yankees have played five more home games than the Red Sox. That makes it imperative that New York doesn’t slip up on the road against lesser opponents such as Kansas City. The Yankees send surging Ivan Nova to the mound Tuesday night in the second of a three-game series. He’ll be opposed by Royals rookie lefthander Danny Duffy.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, WWOR, FSKC

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Ivan Nova (11-4, 3.85 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (3-6, 4.97 ERA).

Nova has won all three starts since returning from Triple-A. The 24-year-old righty is 7-0 in his last eight starts. He went six innings last time out against the White Sox, allowing three runs on five hits. Nova hasn't given up more than seven hits in a game during his eight-game unbeaten stretch. He was pounded for eight runs and 10 hits in three innings by the Royals on May 12.

Duffy matched his longest career outing in his last start, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings in a 4-1 loss at Tampa Bay. Control problems have plagued the 22-year-old rookie, who is making his 16th career start. He has walked at least three batters in nine starts, a troubling start considering he averages a shade under six innings per outing. He has never faced New York.

ABOUT THE YANKEES (73-46): The top of the order continued to set the tone for New York in Monday’s 7-4 victory. Brett Gardner had a pair of hits and two RBIs to extend his hitting streak to four games. Yankees captain Derek Jeter, batting in the No. 2 hole, is 9-for-16 during a four-game hitting streak. His two-run triple put the Yankees ahead to stay. Since July 20, Jeter has hit .348 (31-for-89) to raise his average to .282 – his highest point since May 10. Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth for his 31st save. It was the first time in four appearances he hadn’t allowed a run.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (50-72): Kansas City squandered a number of chances to get its record to .500 at home. Every starter had at least one hit Monday, but the Royals hit into two rally-killing double plays in back-to-back innings. Former Yankee Melky Cabrera extended his hitting streak to eight games and drove in a pair of runs to give him 10 RBIs in his last six. Billy Butler contributed a two-run single for his third two-RBI game in his last four. Rookie Johnny Giavotella had three hits to give him five multi-hit games in his brief 11-game major league career.

FINAL PITCH: The Royals signed their top draft pick, outfielder Bubba Starling, on Monday night. The No. 5 overall pick, Starling was a schoolboy legend in Kansas, starring in baseball, basketball and football, and was touted as the best athlete in the draft by some scouting services.