Oakland @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( May 19, 2013 ) Kansas City 3, Oakland 4

The Oakland Athletics are clinging to a slight edge over the Texas Rangers in the American League West as they prepare to pay a visit to the Kansas City Royals for a three-game series beginning Friday night. The Athletics own the second-best home record in the AL at 28-14 following a 6-2 homestand, but they have played .500 ball (22-22) on the road. Oakland's offense was stagnant in the last two games against the Chicago Cubs, producing a scant two runs on a total of nine hits.

Conversely, the Royals received plenty of mileage from their offense against Cleveland, putting up 21 runs in taking two of three from the Indians. Kansas City has hit the second-fewest homers in the majors with 54, but 11 of those have come in the past six games - including three in Wednesday's 10-7 comeback victory. First baseman Eric Hosmer has fueled the power surge with eight homers in his last 19 games after connecting only once through June 12.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), Fox Sports Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Tommy Milone (7-7, 4.17 ERA) vs. Royals RH Wade Davis (4-6, 5.55)

Milone managed to earn the victory last time out against St. Louis despite serving up three home runs over six innings in a 7-5 victory. The long ball has been a growing concern for Milone, who has allowed at least one in each of his last eight starts and 12 overall during that span. He beat the Royals at home on May 18, giving up one run in six innings to improve to 2-1 with a 1.29 ERA in three starts against them

Davis' string of three straight solid outings came to an abrupt halt when he was battered for six runs in one-plus innings at Minnesota on Saturday. He had allowed that many runs combined over his three previous starts but had just one victory to show for it. He is 2-1 against the Athletics and made a pair of relief appearances against them a year ago, giving up one run on four hits in three innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals LF Alex Gordon sat out Thursday while undergoing tests for a possible concussion after hitting his head against the fence in Wednesday's game.

2. Athletics closer Grant Balfour is 21-for-21 in save chances this season and has converted 39 in a row, leaving him one shy of matching Dennis Eckersley's franchise record.

3. Oakland swept a three-game home series from Kansas City in May, outscoring the Royals 8-5.

PREDICTION: Royals 4, Athletics 3