Royals, losing grip on wild card, meet Giants in key game

The Kansas City Royals will look to prevent their second seven-game losing streak in the past month when they conclude their three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon.

The reeling Royals (82-73) dropped a 2-1 decision to the Giants (76-79) in the series opener on Friday before mustering just five hits for the second straight game and surrendering five homers in a 9-0 rout on Saturday.

"Both sides of the ball, we got our butts beat. It can't be blamed, 'Oh, we didn't hit. We didn't pitch.' We didn't do either today," Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said. "... These guys feel it. They're hurting. They put their blood, sweat and tears into this for seventh months. They don't want to be playing baseball like that."

The Royals have lost 15 of their past 22 games, a stretch that began with setbacks in seven straight from Aug. 28-Sept. 3. Kansas City is clinging to the second wild-card spot in the American League, a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Twins (81-73) and a full game in front of the Detroit Tigers (81-74).

"We're having a tougher time turning the page. Teams get into these ruts. We have to figure out with a week to go how to get out of this rut," Quatraro said. "And you know what I'm going to say. We have our best opportunity to start that tomorrow -- and (the players) are completely aware of that."

The Royals will look to change their fortunes on Sunday when they send right-hander Seth Lugo (16-8, 3.05 ERA) to the mound against San Francisco left-hander Blake Snell (4-3, 3.31).

Lugo, who is in the midst of a career year, settled for a no-decision in his most recent outing Monday against the Tigers despite entering the fifth inning with a 5-1 lead. He was unable to finish the frame, permitting a total of four runs on eight hits before exiting, as Detroit won 7-6.

Lugo, 34, is 4-2 with a 2.03 ERA in 16 career appearances (five starts) against the Giants.

Snell has been on a tear following a slow start, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.33 ERA over his past 13 starts, with 105 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings. The 2023 National League Cy Young Award winner struck out 12 and allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings in a 10-0 romp over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

"The guy's unbelievable. He's on top of it right now," Giants slugger Mike Yastrzemski said. "He's a special pitcher. It's pretty cool to see how dominant he can be."

Snell, 31, is 1-3 with a 7.27 ERA in four career outings against Kansas City.

Yastrzemski contributed on Saturday, hitting a three-run homer to highlight the Giants' six-run sixth inning. LaMonte Wade Jr. launched a pair of solo shots, and Matt Chapman also went deep on two occasions in his first game since returning from the paternity list.

"I've seen guys hit a lot of homers on their first day back from having a baby. I'm glad I got to join that club," Chapman told NBC Sports Bay Area.

--Field Level Media