Kansas City @ New York preview

The Kansas City Royals are riding their longest winning streak in 10 years as they head to New York to open a three-game series with the Mets on Friday night. The Royals have ripped off nine consecutive victories to vault into contention for a wild-card spot, but they are still struggling to make up ground on American League Central rivals Detroit and Cleveland, who have won five and eight straight games, respectively.

Kansas City has also won six straight away from home as it enters the final leg of a nine-game road trip. The Mets played much better in July with a 15-12 record, but opened the new month with a 3-0 loss on Thursday at Miami, their 10th loss in 15 games against the National League-worst Marlins. New York has struggled offensively throughout the season and has scored two runs or fewer in five of its last seven games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSKC (Kansas City), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Wade Davis (5-9, 5.50 ERA) vs. Mets RH Dillon Gee (7-8, 4.13)

Davis halted a four-start losing streak with an outstanding performance last time out, limiting the Chicago White Sox to four hits over 7 1/3 scoreless innings. It marked the longest outing of the year for Davis and was the first time he did not allow a run since April 17. He is 4-4 with a bloated 6.57 ERA in 10 road starts.

Gee lost for the first time in nearly six weeks in his last turn, surrendering three home runs in a 4-1 loss at the Washington Nationals. He had allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his 10 previous starts before his third three-homer game of the year. Despite a 3-3 record, Gee has pitched much better at home with a 2.47 ERA in nine starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals will be seeking to win 10 straight for the first time since a 14-game streak in 1994.

2. Mets CF Juan Lagares is batting .367 (11-for-30) over his last eight games.

3. The series will be only the third between the teams and the first since June 2004.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Royals 3