Kansas City @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Jul 18, 2010 ) Oakland 9, Kansas City 6
Often-disappointing Alex Gordon displayed a glimmer of hope during a weekend sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. The Kansas City Royals would like to see the sudden production continue in the upcoming series with the Oakland Athletics.
Gordon homered twice over the weekend and he continues his new stint as Kansas City’s new starting left fielder when the Royals and Athletics begin a three-game series Monday night in Oakland.
Gordon was the No. 2 overall pick in 2005 and projections had him developing into an All-Star third baseman. He was supposed to become Kansas City’s best player at the hot corner since Hall of Famer George Brett.
But dealing with the expectations and pressure was never easy for Gordon. Then came a string of injuries that further dimmed his star.
Gordon, now 26, began this season on the disabled list after fracturing a thumb and was later sent to Triple-A Omaha to play every day. But with regular left fielder David DeJesus (thumb) sidelined for the season, Gordon is getting a two-month trial as a starting outfielder to see if he can get his career untracked.
He hit a game-winning three-run homer in Friday’s victory over Baltimore and added another homer on Sunday. Gordon went 4-for-11 over the weekend against the Orioles and has suddenly hit in seven consecutive games.
Overall, Gordon is hitting .212 with three homers in 66 at-bats.
Gordon has never faced starter Trevor Cahill, the All-Star right-hander in his second season with the Athletics.
Cahill is 10-4 with a 2.93 ERA and can top his rookie victory total by beating the Royals on Monday.
Cahill took a no-decision against Kansas City on July 17 when he gave up five runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He gave up a grand slam to Royals shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt.
In his last start, Cahill blanked the potent Texas Rangers on two hits over eight innings in a 3-1 Athletics victory.
Cahill is 2-0 with a 5.09 ERA in three career starts against Kansas City.
The Royals will counter with Brian Bannister (7-10, 5.82 ERA), who is 0-5 over his last six starts since beating Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals on June 23.
Bannister has allowed 27 runs in 34 innings (7.15 ERA) during the winless stretch. One of the losses was to Oakland on July 18, when he gave up five runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Bannister is 1-5 with a 5.29 ERA in nine career starts against Oakland. The victory occurred in 2007.
Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki is a career .357 hitter against Bannister. Suzuki has been hot over the last three weeks, hitting .370 (20-for-54) with seven multiple-hit games.
Kansas City designated hitter Jose Guillen is struggling through a cold spell with a .108 average (4-for-37) over the last 10 games.