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May 14, 2016 - 4:50 AM After missing out on the New York Mets' surprise run to the World Series last season, Dillon Gee is getting his chance to contribute with the club that beat them.

Gee, who signed a minor league deal with Kansas City in the offseason, gets the first of what could be several starts Saturday night when the struggling Royals continue their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves.

Gee has posted a 2.61 ERA in seven relief appearances for Kansas City (17-18), striking out 16 over 20 2/3 innings after spending his first six seasons primarily as a starter for the Mets.

The right-hander went 40-37 with a 4.00 ERA in 110 starts from 2010-15, but the emergence of several young arms made him obsolete in New York's plans. Gee was sent to the minors midway through last season and became a free agent over the winter.

Now with right-hander Chris Young on the disabled list with a strained forearm, the 30-year-old may get a few turns in the rotation and definitely would like to improve on his most recent numbers as a starter: 0-3 with a 5.92 ERA over seven outings in 2015.

His best effort will be needed with Kansas City struggling. The defending champions had lost 12 of 16 before beating the Braves 5-1 in Friday's series opener.

"It was good, man, especially to play at home, coming back from New York where we had lost three games over there and to win the first game at home was a great feeling for us," said Edinson Volquez, who got his first win since April 21. "It was a big win."

Gee may not be as flashy as New York's current rotation, but he was dependable for the club and early in 2015 even set a team record by pitching at least five innings in his 51st straight start - which at the time was the longest active streak in the majors.

He saw plenty of action against the Braves (8-26) during his career in the NL East, going 6-5 with a 3.68 ERA over 17 starts. Freddie Freeman has seen him the most among Atlanta batters and is 9 for 37 with two homers in the matchup, while Kelly Johnson (5 for 14) and Nick Markakis (5 for 9) have hit Gee well.

The motivation for Gee in this outing may be strong considering his previous start against Atlanta was a train wreck and also his last in the majors.

While making a spot start June 14 after being demoted to the bullpen, Gee was tagged for eight runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings of New York's 10-8 comeback victory. The Mets designated him for assignment the next day.

In a rather odd coincidence, the Braves starter who opposed Gee in that rough outing will be pitching opposite him in this one.

Mike Foltynewicz (0-1, 5.06 ERA) has made two starts since being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and is still in search of his first win since Aug. 8.

After lasting just 3 2/3 innings and allowing four runs in his season debut, the right-hander worked seven sharp innings with two runs allowed on five hits with a career high-tying eight strikeouts in a 5-3, 11-inning loss to Arizona on Sunday.

"I came in with a different game plan today, cleaned some stuff up mechanically and everything else was flowing well and in sync," Foltynewicz told MLB's official website. "I'll just take that to my next bullpen and go into my next start with it."