Kansas City @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 13, 2013 ) Kansas City 11, LA Angels 4

The Kansas City Royals will try to keep cranking out the hits when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. The Royals strung together 19 hits in an 11-4 victory Monday to start a nine-game road trip. That was more runs than they produced (10) while getting swept in a three-game series over the weekend at home against the New York Yankees. Four players had at least three hits Monday, including a 5-for-5 night by Billy Butler.

The Angels won three in a row last week and appeared pointed in the right direction after a dismal start to the season. But they were one-hit Sunday night by Chicago White Sox left-hander Chris Sale and their pitching was blistered Monday to open a nine-game homestand. Los Angeles outfielder Josh Hamilton had two hits Monday, but misplayed two balls in right field before departing in the seventh inning with a respiratory ailment. He’s hitting .233 in May after hitting .204 in April.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (5-0, 2.28 ERA) vs. Angels LH Jason Vargas (1-3, 4.26)

Guthrie has gone a club-record 18 straight starts without a loss and became the first Kansas City pitcher to win 10 straight decisions since Rich Gale in 1980. His last loss came Aug. 3 against the Texas Rangers, his third start since he was traded by the Colorado Rockies. He made a start against the Angels in September, allowing two runs and five hits in eight innings, but did not earn a decision in the Royals' 3-2 victory. He is 3-3 in his career against Los Angeles with a 3.93 ERA. Hamilton is 7-for-23 with two home runs in his career against Guthrie.

The jury’s still out whether the off-season trade for Vargas was a good one. The Angels lured Vargas from Seattle in exchange for Kendrys Morales, who is putting up decent numbers as the Mariners designated hitter. Vargas strung together his two best starts this season before taking a step back in his latest outing, giving up five runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros, though the Angels came back to win 6-5. Butler is 6-for-13 in his career against Vargas with two doubles and two homers. Vargas is 4-1 in five career starts against Kansas City with a 3.55 ERA, winning both starts last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twelve of Butler’s 25 RBIs this season have come in two games. He had five Monday and seven April 7 against Philadelphia.

2. Royals 3B Mike Moustakas is 0-for-15 since hitting a home run Friday night against the Yankees.

3. Angels RHP Ryan Madson threw a scoreless inning of relief Monday for High-A Inland Empire. Madson, who missed all of last season after undergoing elbow surgery, could be activated this weekend and would bolster the Angels' bullpen.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, Angels 2