Boston @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2013 ) Boston 5, Kansas City 3

Although they struggled in the beginning of the series against the Kansas City Royals, the Boston Red Sox did not lose any ground in the American League East while getting their feet under them. The Red Sox attempt to leave Kansas City with a split of the four-game set when they visit for the finale on Sunday. The Royals are winners of 15 of their last 18 games and are making noise in the wild-card race.

Boston leads the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East by three games, thanks in part to a four-game losing streak by the Rays. The Red Sox could not figure out a way around red-hot Kansas City the first two nights but got a strong bullpen performance on Saturday en route to a 5-3 triumph. The Royals are 4 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics for the second wild-card spot.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FSN Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH John Lackey (7-9, 3.21 ERA) vs. Royals RH James Shields (6-8, 3.36)

Lackey twisted his ankle at Houston on Monday but stayed in the game and ended up allowing two runs while striking out 10 in six innings. The veteran right-hander had some swelling in the ankle the next day but will not miss his next turn as he attempts to snap a four-start winless streak. Lackey is 3-3 with a 3.36 ERA in nine career starts against Kansas City.

Shields is coming off his worst start of 2013, a six-inning loss against Minnesota in which he allowed a season-high seven runs. The right-hander yielded three home runs in that start - only the third time this season that he had surrendered multiple blasts. Shields started at Boston on April 20 and held the Red Sox to one run on four hits in six innings without factoring in the decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz (shoulder) will throw on the side before Sunday’s game. The tentative plan is to have him throw again on Tuesday before a simulated game later in the week.

2. The Royals expect to have RHP Wade Davis (family emergency) and C Salvador Perez (concussion) back with the team on Sunday.

3. Boston CF Jacoby Ellsbury is 7-for-13 in the series. He is 12-for-48 with a pair of home runs in his career against Shields.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Royals 2