Baltimore @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2018 ) Baltimore 2, Kansas City 9

The Kansas City Royals have spent the bulk of the season struggling for offense, but there has been no shortage of run production throughout their eight-game homestand. The Royals look to extend their best six-game stretch of the season a bit longer Saturday when they host the second of three contests against the Baltimore Orioles.

Hunter Dozier and Ryan O'Hearn combined for five hits - including one home run apiece - and six RBIs in Friday's 9-2 rout of the Orioles, further distancing the Royals (43-91) from Baltimore (40-95) for the worst record in the majors. Kansas City remains the lowest-scoring team in the American League, but the club has averaged 6.8 runs - scoring no fewer than five runs in any game - while going 5-1 more than halfway through its homestand. The Orioles were unable to build upon any momentum they might have created while sweeping Toronto earlier in the week, managing only four hits Friday after piling up 29 runs and 41 hits in three games versus the Blue Jays. Rookie Cedric Mullins went 2-for-4 with a solo shot in the opener and has been a steady bright spot for Baltimore since his Aug. 10 big-league debut, batting .317 with six doubles and three home runs in his first 18 games.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (7-13, 5.37 ERA) vs. Royals RH Heath Fillmyer (2-1, 4.21)

Bundy has struggled mightily over his last four outings, losing three of them while giving up 26 runs (25 earned) on 35 hits and six walks over 19 1/3 innings. His latest poor effort came in Sunday's loss to the New York Yankees after he was tagged for four runs over five frames. Bundy has surrendered 34 home runs this season - one shy of a club record - and was embarrassed by the Royals on May 8, allowing seven runs - including four homers - while failing to record an out.

Fillmyer was sharp for the second time in three home outings during a win over Cleveland last Saturday, yielding one run on three hits and two walks across six innings. The 24-year-old rookie had surrendered 10 runs over his previous two starts spanning eight frames after firing seven scoreless innings in a victory over the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 8. Fillmyer is 2-1 with a 2.53 in six appearances (five starts) at home entering his first career game against Baltimore.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals traded C Drew Butera to Colorado in exchange for LHP Jerry Vasto earlier Friday.

2. Mullins has recorded at least one hit in 12 of the 17 games in which he has logged at least one official at-bat.

3. Dozier has hit safely in nine of his last 10 contests (batting .324 over that span), while O'Hearn is hitting .389 with eight RBIs during the homestand.

PREDICTION: Royals 7, Orioles 4