• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Royals, Tigers begin crucial set at Comerica Park

Sep 8, 2014 - 2:54 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Kansas City Royals will try to give their postseason chances a big boost this week, with the American League Central leaders set to open a three-game series with the second-place Detroit Tigers on Monday afternoon.

The Royals are in position right now to end a near 30-year playoff drought, having not gone to the postseason since winning the World Series in 1985. They are currently two games up on the Tigers and five ahead of third-place Cleveland.

Kansas City, though, has lost nine of 13 against the Tigers on the year, splitting six meetings in Detroit.

The Royals have won five of their last six overall, taking two of three from the New York Yankees over the weekend. They won the finale 2-0 on Sunday, with Yordano Ventura and three relievers combining on a four-hit shutout.

"We're playing great baseball," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "We're pitching, we're playing defense and we're scoring runs to win ballgames. That's all that matters."

Getting the start for the Royals is right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, who did not record a decision last time out despite holding the Texas Rangers to one run over seven innings. The good news was that the Royals were at least able to win a 2-1 decision.

Guthrie, meanwhile, remained 10-10 on the year with a 4.31 earned run average.

The 35-year-old was hammered for eight runs over four innings when he last faced Detroit on July 10 at home, falling to 8-6 with a 4.41 ERA against the Tigers lifetime.

Detroit kept pace with Kansas City on Sunday by recording a 6-1 win over the San Francisco Giants, avoiding a three-game sweep thanks to Kyle Lobstein's first career win and three RBI by Miguel Cabrera.

Cabrera homered and became the fifth player in MLB history to record 11 straight seasons of 100 RBI. He joined Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Alex Rodriguez and Al Simmons

"Every win is crucial," said Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter. "We need it."

Justin Verlander looks to rebound today for Detroit after being denied a third straight winning start and the 150th victory of his career on Wednesday at Cleveland.

Verlander was touched for six earned runs over 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven in a loss while falling to 12-12 with a 4.80 ERA on the season.

The right-hander will face the Royals for the fifth time in 2014, going 1-2 with a 5.68 ERA in the four previous meetings.