Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals Game 25 Preview, TV Coverage, Lineup

Detroit Tigers (16-9) at Kansas City (16-8) – 2:10 PM ET

Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City, MO

TV: FSD

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (click for affiliates)

Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy

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Game Preview

Sunday is the series finale for the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals. Kansas City took the first two games, but Detroit won on Saturday and could still split the series. The winner of Sunday’s game will take first place in the AL Central.

When We Last Met

Detroit’s offense has really struggled in Kansas City, scoring just four runs in three games. Luckily, David Price nearly threw a complete game shutout and the Tigers were able to win Saturday, 2-1.

Still, Kansas City is outscoring Detroit in this series, 13-4.

Pitching Matchup

Detroit will send right-hander Anibal Sanchez to the mound on Sunday. Sanchez didn’t pitch well in April, going 1-3 with a 5.46 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. In two of his starts, Sanchez fell victim to the long ball, allowing three home runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates and two homers to the Chicago White Sox.

The offense will have to score more than one or two runs if Sanchez doesn’t pitch better than he has in his recent starts.

Righty Jeremy Guthrie will start for the Kansas City Royals. Like Sanchez, Guthrie has also struggled, going 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 23 innings. He also has 10 walks and 10 strikeouts.

Tiger Lineup

Manager Brad Ausmus has made it clear that he has no desire to shake up the lineup despite the fact the Tigers are averaging under 3.4 runs in the last 19 games.

1. Anthony Gose CF
2. Ian Kinsler 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. Victor Martinez DH
5. J.D. Martinez RF
6. Yoenis Cespedes LF
7. Alex Avila C
8. Nick Castellanos 3B
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Royals Lineup

Kansas City starting shortstop Alcides Escobar remains out of the starting lineup. He took a pitch in the cheek on Wednesday, and the team placed him on the 7-day concussion disabled list.

1. Alex Gordon LF
2. Mike Moustakas 3B
3. Kendrys Morales DH
4. Eric Hosmer 1B
5. Salvador Perez C
6. Omar Infante 2B
7. Paulo Orlando RF
8. Jarrod Dyson CF
9. Christian Colon SS

Injuries

Tigers

• Bruce Rondon — 15-day DL
• Justin Verlander — 15-day DL
• Joe Nathan – Out for the Season