POSSIBILITY OF PITCHING: No starting lineup named.
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Royals -135, Athletics +115; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the Oakland Athletics to open a three-game streak.
Kansas City has a 25-43 overall record and a 12-21 record in home games. The Royals’ hitters are batting a collective .237 that ranks eighth in the AL.
Oakland 23-48 overall and 15-19 away. The Athletics have a 16-4 record in games where they have more hits than their opponents.
Friday’s game is the fourth time these teams have met this season.
BEST PERFORMERS: Bobby Witt Jr. has 10 home runs, 14 walks and 36 RBIs, hitting .240 for the Royals. Whit Merrifield is 10 of 40 with two doubles and five RBIs in the last 10 games.
Seth Brown has 11 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 32 track and field RBIs. Shaun Murphy is 9 of 32 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs in the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 5-5, .225 avg, 4.30 ERA, six runs behind
Athletics: 2–8, .194 average, 4.66 ERA, 34 points behind
INJURIES: Royals: Salvador Perez: Day to day (thumb), Joel Pyamps: 15 day IL (covid-19), Jake Brentz: 60 day IL (flexors), Zach Greinke: 15 day IL ( flexors), Adalberto Mondesi: 60 days IL (knee), Edward Olivares: 10 days IL (quadriceps), Tyler Zuber: 60 days IL (shoulder)
Athletics: Sam Moll: Day to Day (covid-19), Dani Jimenez: 15 day IL (undisclosed), Dalton Jeffries: 60 day IL (arm), Sky Bolt: 60 day IL (oblique), Steven Piscotti: 10-day IL (calves), Deolis Guerra: 60-day IL (elbow), Brent Honeywell Jr.: 60-day IL (elbow)
