Tampa Bay @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( May 30, 2016 ) Tampa Bay 2, Kansas City 6

Eric Hosmer looks to continue an amazing five-game run when his Kansas City Royals host the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in the middle contest of their three-game set. Hosmer has gone 11-for-21 with 12 RBIs during his hitting streak to raise his batting average 25 points to .323 and belted a three-run homer that capped a 6-2 victory in the series opener on Monday.

Paulo Orlando is riding a 13-game hitting streak after recording a double and a single Monday for the Royals, who have won 11 of their last 14 to take over first place in the American League Central. Kansas City goes after its 14th victory in its last 15 games against the Rays at home with Dillon Gee on the mound while Tampa Bay counters with Drew Smyly. The Rays have dropped eight of their last 10 contests overall to fall five games under .500 for the first time this season and managed two runs or fewer in their last four losses. Logan Morrison scored a run Monday and is 13-for-31 with seven RBIs over his last nine contests for Tampa Bay.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Drew Smyly (2-6, 3.92 ERA) vs. Royals RH Dillon Gee (1-2, 3.86)

Smyly has recorded just one victory in his last six starts and has given up eight homers in that span – two in the loss to Miami last time out. The 26-year-old Arkansas native completed at least seven innings three times in his first four starts this season but none in the last six outings. Jarrod Dyson is 3-for-7 versus Smyly, who is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 13 career appearances (five starts) against the Royals.

Gee suffered through his worst of three consecutive starts last time out, allowing six runs (five earned) and 10 hits over four innings at Minnesota. The 30-year-old Texan yielded four runs in 10 1/3 innings over his first two starts following seven relief appearances and served up three homers on Wednesday. Corey Dickerson is 3-for-6 with a homer against Gee, who is 5-6 with a 4.10 ERA in interleague play.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rays have belted 39 homers in 23 road games, which puts them on pace to threaten the major-league record of 138 set by San Francisco in 2001.

2. Dyson is 10-for-25 during his eight-game hitting streak and Royals rookie INF Whit Merrifield has hit safely in seven straight (12-for-32).

3. Tampa Bay committed three errors in the series opener and has recorded 11 miscues in its last seven games.... combined.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Royals 2