Kansas City Royals (41-47, fourth in the AL Central) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (43-44, fourth in the NL West)
Phoenix; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Kris Bubic (6-6, 2.25 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 101 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4, 5.12 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 80 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Diamondbacks -114, Royals -105; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks open a three-game series at home against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
Arizona has a 22-23 record in home games and a 43-44 record overall. The Diamondbacks have a 19-10 record in games when they did not allow a home run.
Kansas City has a 41-47 record overall and a 21-23 record on the road. The Royals have the second-ranked team ERA in the AL at 3.48.
The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.
TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Naylor has 18 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs and 54 RBIs while hitting .303 for the Diamondbacks. Geraldo Perdomo is 14 for 39 with two doubles and a home run over the last 10 games.
Maikel Garcia leads the Royals with a .305 batting average, and has 22 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 30 walks and 39 RBIs. Bobby Witt Jr. is 13 for 42 with a home run and six RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Diamondbacks: 4-6, .243 batting average, 4.15 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runs
Royals: 3-7, .206 batting average, 3.99 ERA, outscored by 13 runs
INJURIES: Diamondbacks: Ildemaro Vargas: 10-Day IL (foot), Corbin Carroll: 10-Day IL (hand), Christian Montes De Oca: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gabriel Moreno: 10-Day IL (hand), Justin Martinez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Mena: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Kendall Graveman: 15-Day IL (hip), Corbin Burnes: 60-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Puk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jordan Montgomery: 60-Day IL (elbow), Blake Walston: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Royals: Cole Ragans: 15-Day IL (rotator cuff), Michael Massey: 10-Day IL (ankle), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
