Kansas City @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2013 ) Kansas City 10, Tampa Bay 1

The Kansas City Royals have feasted on Tampa Bay Rays pitching this season, producing 27 runs and 43 hits in three victories. The struggling Matt Moore will try to change that trend when the Rays host the Royals in the second contest of a four-game series on Friday. Elliot Johnson led the assault on his former team Thursday, collecting three hits and three RBIs in the 10-1 victory - Kansas City’s eighth in its last nine games.

The Rays are moving in the opposite direction, as they've dropped four of their last five contests to fall five games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East. Tampa Bay has scored twice in the last two games after posting 31 runs in the previous four. Evan Longoria continues to be the leader of the Rays' offense, going 8-for-23 with three homers over his last six contests.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Kansas City), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luis Mendoza (1-3, 4.19 ERA) vs. Rays LH Matt Moore (8-2, 3.78)

Mendoza did not get a decision despite scattering four hits over seven scoreless innings against Houston on Sunday. The right-hander has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last seven starts but is just 1-2 in that span. Mendoza is 0-1 in two career outings against Tampa Bay, yielding eight runs over 8 1/3 innings.

Moore has been knocked around in his last two outings, surrendering 15 runs (14 earned) over seven innings to suffer his first two defeats. The 23-year-old had given up two or fewer runs in nine of his first 11 starts, allowing 39 hits in 62 frames. Alcides Escobar is 3-for-3 with a home run against Moore, who yielded four runs over 7 1/3 innings last June in his only career start against Kansas City.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kansas City has allowed three or fewer runs in 12 straight games, a new franchise record.

2. Tampa Bay OF Matt Joyce is 8-for-20 with a pair of homers over his last five contests.

3. The Royals have hit only 35 home runs, including two in Thursday’s victory. That total is 19 less than any other team in the American League.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Royals 3