Kansas City @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 5, 2013 ) Kansas City 13, Philadelphia 4

The Kansas City Royals finally displayed the prolific offense expected of them in Friday's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. It will be up to Phillies newcomer John Lannan to try to limit the Royals attack when the teams meet again Saturday night in Philadelphia. After producing a total of 17 hits in a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox to open the season, Kansas City produced 19 in a 13-4 rout of Philadelphia on Friday.

If Lannan falters, the Phillies will hope for better results out of their bullpen. Three relievers allowed eight runs on 11 hits in just 3 1/3 innings Friday as Kansas City stormed back with 13 unanswered runs to drop Philadelphia to 1-3. Even if Lannan performs well in his debut with the Phillies, their offense may need to pick it up a notch. After scoring only two runs in back-to-back games in Atlanta, the Phillies plated four in the first three innings Friday before they were held without a hit the final six frames.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City, TCN (Philadelphia)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luis Mendoza (2012: 8-10, 4.23 ERA) vs. Phillies LH John Lannan (2012: 4-1, 4.13)

After going back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen early last year, Mendoza became a full-fledged starter by mid-June, posting a very respectable 3.83 ERA in 20 outings thereafter. The 29-year-old from Veracruz, Mexico, established career highs in every significant category. In a six-year career that has seen Mendoza spend plenty of time on minor-league buses, he has proven to be a more capable starter than reliever in the majors and beat out several candidates for the final spot in the rotation -- including holdovers Luke Hochevar and Bruce Chen -- after a solid spring in which he posted a 2.70 ERA in 16 2/3 innings.

Once a big component in Washington's rising rotation, even making a pair of Opening Day starts for the Nationals, Lannan was on the outs in 2012. He was optioned to the minors before the season began and did not make it back up until July 21, when he allowed two runs in seven innings in a win over Atlanta. The 28-year-old would make only five more starts for the big club. The last two were against the Phillies, who signed Lannan in December in search of pitching depth. The left-hander had a 7.71 ERA in six games this spring, but almost all of the damage came in one outing in which he gave up 12 runs in four innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals slugger Billy Butler was held out Friday as they lost the designated hitter in the National League park, but he is expected to see action at first base over the weekend with a pair of left-handers going for the Phillies.

2. Kansas City right fielder Jeff Francoeur is 13-for-25 with a home run and four doubles against Lannan.

3. Philadelphia's Cole Hamels opposes James Shields in the finale Sunday.

PREDICTION: Royals 7, Phillies 6