Kansas City @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2012 ) Kansas City 2, Houston 1

Caught in a tailspin that has them back at .500, the Kansas City Royals continue their nine-game road trip Monday with the first of three against the Houston Astros. The visit to the lowly Astros comes at a great time for the Royals, who have dropped 10 of 13 games and are coming off a frustrating sweep in Oakland. Kansas City led in all three games but lost each by a run, getting outscored 6-0 in the series from the sixth inning on.

The Royals' meager offensive attack, which entered Sunday ranked last in the American League in home runs and walks, has scored three runs or fewer nine times in the 3-10 stretch. Kansas City will be facing the worst pitching staff in baseball in Houston, which dropped two of three in Pittsburgh over the weekend, capped by a 1-0 loss Sunday in which it managed just three singles. The Astros were 17-13 against the Royals when the teams met in interleague play. This is their first encounter since Houston joined the AL.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City (Kansas City), Comcast SportsNet Houston (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (5-1, 2.82 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (0-1, 4.82)

It took Guthrie 19 starts as a Royal before he finally tasted defeat. As has often been the case when Guthrie has struggled over the years, the home run did him in. He gave up a career-high four in a 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Tuesday. Guthrie also failed to strike out a batter for the first time as a starter since April 23, 2010, and walked three. The veteran right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.68 ERA in three career starts against Houston and won his only prior outing at Minute Maid Park.

Keuchel is making his third start of the season after working out of the bullpen earlier in the year. The Astros are 1-1 in his starts, during which the southpaw has surrendered six earned runs in 11 2/3 innings. Keuchel held Texas to two runs in six frames in his first start of the year at Minute Maid Park, where he posted a very strong 2.95 ERA in 10 starts last year. The 25-year-old has never faced Kansas City.

WALK-OFFS

1. Since homering in three straight contests, Royals 3B Mike Moustakas has gone 1-for-33 in a span of eight games.

2. Astros 1B Carlos Pena is 9-for-26 with a home run and eight walks against Guthrie, good for a 1.038 OPS.

3. Houston's bullpen has allowed just two earned runs in 13 innings over the last four games.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, Astros 4