Royals Ride Three-Game Winning Streak Into Oakland

After a series win in Houston, the Royals head out west.

After a rough start to this road trip, the Royals bounced back in Houston taking three of four to win the ALDS rematch. In what’s a crazy extreme between ballparks Kansas City will go from a ballpark that yields tons of home runs to one that’s much tougher.

Oakland enters this tilt at 4-6 where the Royals are 7-2, oddly enough KC has back-to-back three game win streaks after losing.

Probable Pitching Match-Ups
Friday, 9:05 pm – RHP Edinson Volquez (1-0, 1.54 ERA) v. LHP Rich Hill (1-1, 3.12 ERA)
Saturday, 3:05 pm – RHP Chris Young  (0-2, 7.45 ERA) v. RHP Sonny Gray (1-1, 2.70 ERA)
Sunday, 3:05 pm – RHP Kris Medlen  (1-0, 3.60 ERA) v. RHP Chris Bassitt (0-0, 2.92 ERA)

Comments on Pitching Match-Ups – The Royals enter this series having gotten three nice starts in a tough ballpark to pitch in for anyone, not to mention a place where they have struggled. The biggest benefit of pitching at O.co is all the foul ground at the stadium which should help all three starting pitchers.

Game 1: Volquez didn’t factor in the decision last Sunday despite pitching well enough to earn the win. He’ll be opposed by southpaw Hill who has given the Royals troubles in the past.
Game 2: Young was just an awful match-up against Houston at Minute Maid Park, and he’ll likely find better results out west. Gray will be a tough challenge just given how good he is and pitching during the day won’t hurt either, where he has a 2.81 ERA over 26 starts.
Game 3: Medlen has had a nice start to his career in blue in terms of how he’s pitched on the road (2.40 ERA over 35 IP). Bassitt on the other hand has yet to earn a win or loss, despite throwing the ball well early this season.

Series Outlook – We’ll see plenty of Billy this weekend! Billy Burns that is, Billy Butler has been banished to a platoon role by Bob Melvin. Billy Beane has assembled another off mix of talent which he think can contend in their division and make some postseason noise. This stadium bodes well for our boys in blue, given how big it is and the speed of Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain and Paulo Orlando.

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Prediction – Royals take two out of three from our old friend Billy Butler and his A’s

2015 Meetings
It was all Royals last season against the A’s, as they took five of six contests including a sweep out west. Interesting that Greg Holland saved three games last season between these two teams. The lone Athletics win was a 5-0 shutout at the K where they defeated Yordano Ventura.

Franchise History
The Athletics hold an 308-259 all-time record against the Royals including a mark of 169-114 in Oakland. Kansas City has won 10 of the last 13 in this series not including the Wild Card game of 2014.

TV/Radio Coverage
FOX Sports Kansas City will broadcast all three games from Oakland with Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler. Joel Goldberg and Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery host Royals Live before and after the games.

On the Royals Radio Network (610 Sports in KC) will be Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart.

Next: Salvador Perez Turning Into A Slugger

Game Notes:
Oakland Athletics
Kansas City Royals