Kansas City @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2018 ) Kansas City 1, Tampa Bay 4

The Tampa Bay Rays are on an impressive roll on the mound and have a great chance to maintain that trend when they continue a four-game series at home with the punchless Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The Rays extended a scoreless streak to 27 innings - tying a franchise record - before riding ace Blake Snell to a 4-1 victory Tuesday.

The staff has a 0.33 ERA over the last three games while recording 36 strikeouts for Tampa Bay, which has matched its high-water mark for the season at four games over .500. The Rays will try to move five games over for the first time behind another bullpen day Wednesday, led by opener Ryne Stanek. Jakob Junis goes for the Royals, losers of 15 of their last 19 overall and 0-5 against Tampa Bay this season. Kansas City's lone run Tuesday came on a solo shot by first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, his fourth blast in a seven-game stretch - during which the rookie has eight RBIs.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jakob Junis (6-11, 4.76 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.68)

Junis allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last three outings while recording 21 strikeouts across 16 1/3 innings. He plunked three batters over the past two appearances and entered Tuesday tied for second in the majors with 13 hit batters on the year. The 25-year-old is 2-0 in two career matchups (one start) with the Rays, allowing one run and fanning 10 in 6 2/3 total innings.

Stanek worked out of the bullpen in the series opener, tossing a scoreless eighth to help Tampa Bay to a 1-0 win. His last start came three days earlier at Boston, where he was charged with two runs in an inning of work. Fellow right-hander Yonny Chirinos worked six innings out of the pen in that game and is expected to handle the bulk of the innings in relief of Stanek on Wednesday.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays LF Tommy Pham left Tuesday's game after dislocating a ring finger diving back into first base.

2. Royals RF Jorge Bonifacio was a late scratch Tuesday due to lower back tightness.

3. Tampa Bay INF Joey Wendle has five extra-base hits and six RBIs over his last six games.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Royals 3