WASHINGTON NATIONALS (18-7)

at KANSAS CITY ROYALS (13-12)

First pitch: Tuesday, 8:15 p.m. ET
Line: Washington +108, Kansas City -118, Total: 8.0

The World Series-champion Royals host the first-place Nationals in an interleague clash at Kauffman Stadium.

The first-place Nationals (18-7) shut out the Royals (13-12), 2-0, in the series opener on Monday night and will look to take the three-game set on Tuesday. After getting swept by the Phillies at home last week, Dusty Baker’s team has gotten back on track and rattled off four straight wins. The Royals, in third place in the American League Central and four-and-a-half games behind the first-place White Sox, have now dropped six of seven. Pitching for the Nats will be RHP Tanner Roark (2-2, 2.03 ERA, 30 SO, 13 BB in 31 IP), who is coming off two consecutive seven-inning shutouts. He’ll be opposed by RHP Chris Young (1-4, 6.12 ERA, 26 SO, 10 BB, 6 HR in 25 IP). The 6’10” veteran has given up a home run in each of his five starts this season. Both Baker and Royals manager Ned Yost have quality bullpens at their disposal. The Royals’ pen (2.33 ERA) has been slightly better than the Nats’ (2.48), but both units can protect leads. The Nationals have posted an impressive 10-3 record on the road, and the Royals have played solid baseball at Kauffman Stadium, going 8-4 in their home park.

2B Daniel Murphy (.382, 2 HR, 13 RBI, .439 OBP), in his first season with the Nationals after eight years with the rival Mets, is third in the National League in hitting. RF Bryce Harper (.271, 9 HR, 24 RBI, .385 OBP), widely believed to be the best player in the sport, has seen his average dip below .300, but is still tied for third in the NL in homers. Catcher Wilson Ramos (.316, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .328 OBP) has provided punch from the catcher’s spot, though veterans Jayson Werth (.203, 4 HR, 13 RBI, .278 OBP) and Ryan Zimmerman (.234, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .310 OBP)—while still dangerous—are showing their age. Roark, who hasn’t allowed a run in three of his five starts this season, has never faced the Royals. Harper has crushed Young in his career, going 4-for-8 with a homer. SS Danny Espinosa (.192, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .310 OBP) has also hit well against the 36-year-old, going 3-for-10 with a pair of walks. Ramos has homered both times in two career at-bats against Young—not bad—and Zimmerman is 5-for-20 against him with a blast and two doubles.

1B Eric Hosmer (.337, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .388 OBP) has been far and way the Royals’ best hitter in 2016. But aside from him, offensive production has been hard to come by, as evidenced by Kansas City’s 81 runs (T-13th in AL). Four regulars—Alcides Escobar (.234, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .265 OBP), Lorenzo Cain (.231, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .300 OBP), Kendrys Morales (.217, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .267 OBP) and Alex Gordon (.205, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .237 OBP)—are hitting below .240. The Royals are tied with the Indians and Red Sox for the least amount of home runs (21) in the American League. The entire Royals roster has a combined seven career at-bats against Roark. Morales (1-for-3) has the most, with three. Young, who pitched in the NL from 2006-12, has faced Washington nine times. He has a 3-2 career record against the organization with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.024 WHIP. Young is 10-0 UNDER in home games after a loss over the last three seasons.