Series Preview: Tigers (14-9) at Royals (14-13)

It was another home series win for the Kansas City Royals (14-13) after taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays. Next up the Detroit Tigers (14-9) come to Kauffman Stadium for three games between AL Central foes.

The Kansas City Royals open an important three game weekend series against AL Central leading Detroit. James Shields gets the ball to open. Photo Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Probably Pitching Match-ups:
Friday, 7:10 pm –  Rick Porcello/RHP (3-1,3.96) v. James Shields/RHP (3-2, 2.03)
Saturday, 6:10 pm – Drew Smyly/LHP (1-1, 3.60) v. TBA (likely Danny Duffy/LHP 1-1, 2.16)
Sunday, 1:10 pm – Justin Verlander/RHP (3-1, 2.48) v. Jason Vargas/LHP (2-0, 2.40)

Comments on Pitching Match-ups – In this big series for KC they’ll have guys on the mound that should please their fan base. While Kansas City misses Max Scherzer they still see Porcello and Verlander to open and close the weekend. Saturday is a question mark given that Bruce Chen has been put on the DL which probably means Duffy will get his first start of 2014.

2014 Meetings:
These teams square off for the second time this season but first time since opening week in Detroit. The Tigers won on Opening Day 4-3 with their first of two walk-off wins. After a rained out game it was another one run defeat, this time in 10 innings by the score of 2-1 dropping KC to 0-2.

Franchise History:
Even after losing two games in March/April the boys in blue still lead the all-time series 305-304 over their Motor City rivals. It’s been all KC between these two when playing in the City of Fountains with Kansas City leading 160-141 and 150-127 at Kauffman Stadium.

TV/Radio Coverage:
Fans can tune into FOX Sports Kansas City for two of the three games with Ryan Lefebvre  and Rex Hudler on TV. Joel Goldberg and Jeff Montgomery host Royals Live before and after from Rivals in right field. FOX Sports 1 will have national coverage of series on Saturday night when broadcasting game two from the K. Royals Hall of Famer/2007 Ford C. Frick Award winner Denny Matthews is joined in the booth by Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart will be on the Royals Radio Network (610 Sports Radio in KC) describing the action.

AL Central Standings (May 2):
Detroit Tigers (14-9)
Kansas City Royals (14-13, 2 GB)
Chicago White Sox (14-15, 3 GB)
Minnesota Twins (12-14, 3.5 GB)
Cleveland Indians (11-17, 5.5 GB)

2014 Series Schedule/Results v. Tigers (DET 2-0)
March 30 – April 2, Comerica Park – L 4-3, L 2-1 F/10, PPD
May 2-4, Kauffman Stadium
June 16-18, Comerica Park
July 10-13, Kauffman Stadium
September 8-10, Comerica Park
September 19-21, Kauffman Stadium

Game Notes:
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals