New York @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( May 11, 2013 ) NY Yankees 3, Kansas City 2

The New York Yankees have won four straight on their eight-game road trip and will go for a series sweep of the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. The hot stretch has propelled New York into sole possession of first place in the American League East despite the fact that star players Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson have yet to play a game because of injuries. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound versus Ervin Santana on Sunday.

Kansas City is sliding in the wrong direction, dropping five of six games. Four of the losses have come to AL East clubs Baltimore and New York, so the Royals could use a win Sunday before embarking on a nine-game road trip. Billy Butler, recently moved to the cleanup spot in a lineup shuffle, ended a 15-game homerless drought Saturday but he continues to scuffle at the plate with two multi-hit games in his last 25.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), Fox Sports Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (4-2, 2.30 ERA) vs. Royals RH Ervin Santana (3-1, 2.36)

Kuroda has yet to allow more than three runs in a start and has been outstanding in his last five outings, surrendering a total of six runs and pitching at least seven innings four times. He was a hard-luck loser last time out, giving up two runs on seven hits in seven innings of a 2-0 loss at Colorado. Kuroda has had his struggles against the Royals, losing both career starts and allowing them to bat .310 against him. Butler is 4-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs against him.

Santana gave up four runs in losing his season debut but has gone 3-0 and allowed a total of eight runs in five subsequent starts. He did not factor in the decision last time out at Baltimore after giving up three runs in six innings. Santana's biggest problem has been the first inning - he has surrendered seven of his 12 runs in that frame. He has not had a lot of success against the Yankees dating to his time with the Los Angeles Angels, logging a 5-6 mark and 5.90 ERA in 14 career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano is 12-for-37 with five homers against Santana.

2. Royals OF Alex Gordon is 4-for-5 against Kuroda.

3. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has converted 28 straight saves against the Royals dating to Aug. 18, 1998.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Royals 3