Kansas City @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2019 ) Kansas City 6, Oakland 5

The Oakland Athletics began their final homestand of the season by squandering a pair of leads and watching their six-game winning streak come to an end. Oakland looks get back in the win column and maintain its lead in the American League wild-card race when it hosts the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series.

The Athletics saw their early three-run lead vanish before blowing a one-run advantage in the ninth en route to a 6-5 loss in the series opener. Marcus Semien continued his torrid pace, going 3-for-5 with a two-run homer as Oakland saw its lead over Tampa Bay for the top wild-card spot shrink to one game. Semien is riding a seven-game hitting streak during which he has gone 14-for-32 with a trio of three-hit performances, five homers and 10 RBIs. Brett Phillips belted a game-tying solo homer in the ninth and Adalberto Mondesi hit a go-ahead double to cap a three-hit, two-RBI performance as the Royals halted their three-game slide.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Jorge Lopez (4-7, 6.09 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Brett Anderson (12-9, 4.07)

Lopez will be making his third consecutive start on the road after winning the previous two, including one against the White Sox in Chicago on Thursday in which he allowed three runs - two earned - and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old Puerto Rican has not lost since July 4, notching three victories over five starts and 10 relief outings. Lopez made his first career appearance against Oakland on Aug. 26 out of the bullpen and was tagged for five runs and five hits in 1 2/3 frames.

Anderson is coming off a win at Houston on Wednesday in which he permitted two runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings. The 31-year-old Texan has not won at home since June 18 against Baltimore, going 0-4 with a 6.51 ERA in seven outings. Anderson owns a 2-1 record in three career starts versus Kansas City despite surrendering 13 runs and 16 hits over 14 1/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Semien has hit 29 of his 31 homers from the leadoff spot, breaking the club record set in 1990 by Rickey Henderson.

2. Kansas City DH-OF Jorge Soler hit his 45th homer in the series opener to pull even with Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels for the AL lead.

3. Oakland 1B Matt Olson drove in two runs on Monday to increase his RBI total to 85 in 117 games, surpassing the career high he set in 162 contests last season.

PREDICTION: Athletics 9, Royals 4