Kansas City @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2018 ) Kansas City 8, Detroit 11

Detroit Tigers outfielder Christin Stewart showed enough power in the minors this season to prove he was worthy of a big-league promotion, and it took him less than two weeks to demonstrate it against an American League Central rival. Coming off the type of performance it hasn't seen from a rookie in years, Detroit hopes it can get another huge offensive effort from its 24-year-old slugger Friday when the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals in the second contest of a four-game set.

Stewart tallied 25 homers and 80 RBIs in 125 minor-league games in 2018 before making his major-league debut Sept. 9 and delivered on that promise by hitting two home runs and driving in six in Thursday's 11-8 series-opening win. Not only did the outburst help his team end a seven-game home losing streak, but the Georgia native needed only 11 games to become first Tigers rookie with six RBIs in a game since Ryan Raburn in 2007. Stewart nearly tied the club record for most RBIs in a game (eight), but his bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning was preceded by a foul ball that missed being a likely three-run double by a few inches. The Royals (52-101) dropped their fifth straight contest despite registering three doubles and four homers and are five losses away from tying the franchise mark they set in 2005.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS Detroit

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ian Kennedy (2-8, 4.73 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Francisco Liriano (5-10, 4.54)

Kennedy produced his second straight quality start and notched his first victory in 18 turns since April 7 after yielding two runs (one earned) over six innings against Minnesota. The 33-year-old journeyman has yielded three runs or fewer over his last five outings, including two since sitting out nearly two months on the disabled list. Victor Martinez is 8-for-24 with a home run versus Kennedy, who delivered six scoreless innings and struck out seven in a no-decision against Detroit on May 4.

Liriano has steadied the ship a bit in three September starts, going 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA this month after posting a 0-4 record and 7.17 ERA in five August outings. The 2006 All-Star was sharp for the most part in Sunday's victory at Cleveland, allowing three runs and striking out seven in as many frames. Jorge Bonifacio (3-for-5, two doubles, one home run) is one of the few Royals to fare well versus Liriano, who is 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA in four starts against Kansas City this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals need one victory this weekend to win the season series for the fourth straight year.

2. Detroit OF Nicholas Castellanos was one of six Tigers with multiple hits Thursday and is batting .378 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 18 games this month.

3. Kansas City 2B Whit Merrifield is batting .319 and has scored 13 runs during an 11-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Royals 2