Houston @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( May 8, 2019 ) Kansas City 0, Houston 9

Gerrit Cole attempts to win his 13th straight decision when the Houston Astros open a three-game series against the host Kansas City Royals on Friday. Cole has posted a 1.97 ERA during an 18-start unbeaten streak that has followed a loss to the Chicago White Sox on May 22.

Cole leads the majors with 281 strikeouts and has fanned 10 or more batters in each of his last five starts. Houston lost three straight to Oakland to see its lead over the Athletics in the American League West slip to 7 1/2 games and sits two games behind the New York Yankees for the best record in the majors. Jorge Soler belted his 44th homer - one fewer than AL leader Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels - during Thursday's 6-3 win over the Chicago White Sox to give the Royals their eighth win in 11 games. "We have a lot of young guys on this team that are getting their feet wet, including myself," Hunter Dozier, who belted a three-run homer to raise his season count to 26, told reporters. "It has been a good year getting those guys more experience. Lately, we're playing good baseball."

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston) FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (16-5, 2.73 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (6-6, 4.71)

Cole has registered 65 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings during his five-start run, including one outing with 15 and two with 14 along with performances of 12 and 10. The 29-year-old dominated Seattle in his last turn as he gave up one run and one hit - a homer - while fanning 15 over eight innings. Cole defeated the Royals on May 6, when he gave up four runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 frames to improve to 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three career starts versus the club.

Duffy beat Miami in his last turn as he gave up one run and two hits over six innings. The 31-year-old has won three of his last four decisions after enduring a nine-start winless stretch. Duffy defeated the Astros on May 7, when he permitted two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 frames, and is 3-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 10 career appearances (seven starts) versus the team.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros 2B Jose Altuve increased his career-high homer total to 27 after hitting a solo shot in Thursday's 3-2 loss.

2. Kansas City has won four consecutive series for the first time since claiming five in a row in June 2017.

3. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel (hamstring) entered in the seventh inning on Thursday after missing five games and went 1-for-2 before being lifted for a pinch-runner.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Royals 3