Detroit @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2018 ) Detroit 2, Kansas City 6

The Kansas City Royals’ normally punchless offense has picked it up in the last four contests and looks to continue that trend when the Detroit Tigers visit for the finale of their two-game set on Wednesday afternoon. The Royals, who have scored a major league-low 489 runs in 2018, took two of three from American League Central-leading Cleveland this past weekend and used a 10-hit attack to defeat the Tigers 6-2 in Tuesday's series opener.

Kansas City’s Adalberto Mondesi has registered four hits in his last two games, including a homer on Tuesday, and Whit Merrifield added a pair of singles in the victory to improve his lifetime batting average against Detroit to .333. Danny Duffy is 0-2 with an 11.32 ERA against the Tigers this year as he gets the call Wednesday opposite Michael Fulmer, who gave up two runs over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Royals on April 20. Detroit has dropped four straight contests and is just one game ahead of the fourth-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. JaCoby Jones homered on Tuesday in his first game since Aug. 12 due to a stint on the disabled list and Jim Adduci has registered multiple hits in three of his last five contests.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (3-9, 4.32 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (7-11, 4.85)

Fulmer was limited to 77 pitches in his first start after returning from the DL on Friday and held the White Sox to two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless frames. The 25-year-old native of Oklahoma City, who was sidelined with an oblique strain since July 14, struck out four and walked one in that outing. Merrifield is 7-for-16 with a homer versus Fulmer, who is 2-4 with a 3.23 ERA in eight career appearances against the Royals.

Duffy gave up two runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings of a no-decision at Tampa Bay on Thursday following a brief stint on the DL. The 29-year-old Californian has permitted six or more runs in three of his last five outings, including an 8-4 loss to Detroit on July 25. Victor Martinez is 18-for-45 with three homers against Duffy, who is 7-10 with a 4.63 ERA versus the Tigers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Detroit RF Nicholas Castellano leads the major leagues in batting average (at least 50 at-bats) against left-handed pitchers at .408.

2. Kansas City 1B-3B Hunter Dozier has registered a pair of homers and six RBIs in his last six contests.

3. Tigers OF Mikie Mahtook is 7-for-16 with a pair of homers during his five-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Royals 5