Boston @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( May 2, 2018 ) Kansas City 4, Boston 5

The Boston Red Sox own the best record in the majors at 30 games over .500 and just finished off a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals to improve to 4-2 on their nine-game road trip. The Kansas City Royals, who host the Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series on Friday, are at the opposite end of the spectrum as they fight to avoid the worst record in baseball.

Boston improved to 31-17 on the road by sweeping the Nationals and are looking to go into the All-Star break on a high note with their last 10 games prior to the mid-summer classic against teams with losing records. "I'm proud of them," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters of his players. "They show up every day, they prepare, they go about their business the right way, they enjoy winning and they don't get caught up in whatever's going on around us. They're focused on the task at hand. We know where we're at, but we still have a long way to go." The Royals are losers of six in a row and 18 of their last 21 and will spend the next few weeks as one of the more attractive selling candidates in front of the trade deadline. Veteran right-hander Jason Hammel will try to increase his trade value when he takes the mound on Friday opposite Boston ace Chris Sale.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (8-4, 2.41 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jason Hammel (2-10, 5.56)

Sale dominated the New York Yankees in his last outing on Saturday, yielding one hit and one walk while striking out 11 in seven scoreless frames. That marked the second straight scoreless outing for the Florida native, who is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 44 strikeouts in his last four turns. Sale struck out six and surrendered one earned run in seven innings against Kansas City on May 1 but was held out of the decision.

Hammel is winless in his last six outings and was knocked around for six runs and 13 hits in six innings to suffer a loss at Seattle on Saturday. The 35-year-old allowed a total of 15 runs - 13 earned - and 19 hits across 10 innings in his last two starts. Hammel did not have much luck at Boston on April 30, when he was ripped for eight runs on eight hits and three walks in 4 2/3 frames to suffer a loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox RHP Tyler Thornburg (shoulder) was activated from the DL on Wednesday and could make his team debut this weekend.

2. Kansas City 3B Mike Moustakas (back spasms) missed the last two games but could return Friday.

3. Boston 1B Mitch Moreland (back spasms) sat out Wednesday and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 7, Royals 1