Boston @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2013 ) Kansas City 5, Boston 4
The Kansas City Royals are enjoying a spirited surge to remain firmly in the discussion for their first postseason berth since their magical run to the 1985 World Series title. The Royals vie for their 14th victory in 16 outings on Thursday, when they open a four-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox. Alex Gordon homered and joined Alcides Escobar by driving in a pair of runs as Kansas City secured a 5-2 triumph over Minnesota on Wednesday.
While the Royals have crept within five games of the second wild card in the American League, the Red Sox are in considerably better standing. Stephen Drew belted a three-run homer in the ninth inning on Wednesday as Boston rallied to a 7-5 victory over Houston. Drew is 13-for-28 (.464) during his season-high eight-game hitting streak for the Red Sox, who have won six of eight to move 2 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay in the AL East.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FSN (Kansas City)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (10-6, 4.52 ERA) vs. Royals LH Bruce Chen (4-0, 2.03)
Lester was blitzed for six runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings against Arizona but escaped with a no-decision in his last outing. The 29-year-old has enjoyed considerable success versus the Royals, posting a 6-2 career mark with a slim 1.64 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Lester has allowed just one homer in 60 1/3 frames against Kansas City while limiting it to a .176 batting average.
Chen has yielded a total of four runs and 11 hits in his last four starts but has just one win to show for it. The 36-year-old Panamanian permitted one run on four hits and struck out eight in six innings but settled for a no-decision versus the New York Mets on Saturday. Chen is 4-6 in 19 career appearances (11 starts) against the Red Sox but owns a 5.59 ERA while allowing the opposition to bat .296 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Royals defeated the Red Sox in a doubleheader on April 21 to win the three-game set. The original series opener was postponed as authorities conducted a manhunt for one of the suspects involved in the Boston Marathon bombing.
2. Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who is riding back-to-back four-hit performances, is 7-for-25 lifetime versus Chen.
3. Gordon snapped a 1-for-23 stretch with a pair of hits on Wednesday. He has struggled against Lester, however, going 2-for-15 with seven strikeouts.
PREDICTION: Royals 5, Red Sox 4