Kansas City @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( May 16, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 5, Kansas City 3

The Tampa Bay Rays were able to land some punches against a pair of heavyweights in the American League to salvage a 5-4 mark on their just-completed nine-game road trip. After shutting out the team with the best record in the majors, the Rays (63-61) aim to knock around a club with one of the worst on Monday when they begin a seven-game homestand with the first of four contests versus the Kansas City Royals (38-86).

Joey Wendle belted a solo homer and C.J. Cron extended his hitting streak to five games by going deep for the second time in as many days during Tampa Bay's 2-0 triumph over Boston on Sunday. The 28-year-old Cron has come up clutch against Kansas City to the tune of going 5-for-13 with two homers for the Rays, who have won eight of their last 13 home contests. The reeling Royals endured yet another black mark to what has proven to be a lost season long ago on Sunday when they saw an early six-run lead evaporate in a 7-6 setback to the Chicago White Sox. Whit Merrifield, who launched a three-run homer as part of a six-run second inning, is batting 13-for-32 during his eight-game hitting streak heading into a tilt with Tampa Bay, against which he is 6-for-13 with a homer and four RBIs.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jorge Lopez (0-2, 4.44 ERA) vs. Rays RH Hunter Wood (0-1, 4.10)

Lopez allowed six runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings of a 6-5 setback versus Toronto on Wednesday in his first start for Kansas City since being acquired as part of the Mike Moustakas trade on July 27. "I'm a little disappointed with the outing, but it was just one pitch took away the outing," said the 25-year-old, who surrendered Curtis Granderson's 10th career grand slam in the loss. Lopez, who is slated to make his second start of the season and fourth of his career, has made 11 of his 14 major-league appearances in 2018.

Wood suffered his first loss of the season on Tuesday after allowing one run on three hits over one inning of a 4-1 setback at the New York Yankees. The 25-year-old, who has yet to face Kansas City in his career, permitted five runs and 11 hits in his last four outings (5 2/3 innings). Wood has walked at least one batter in 10 of his last 11 games.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay 3B Matt Duffy, who is 3-for-24 since Aug. 11, is 4-for-7 versus Kansas City this season.

2. Royals C Salvador Perez struck out in all five plate appearances on Sunday to see a five-game hitting streak come to an end.

3. Tampa Bay SS Willy Adames is mired in a 1-for-13 stretch with five strikeouts.

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Royals 2