Game No. 76 Preview: Houston Astros at Kansas City Royals

Houston Astros (38-36) vs. Kansas City Royals (38-34), June 25, 2016, 6:15 PM CDT

TV: Root Sports SW
Online: MLB.TV
Radio: KBME SportsTalk 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM (En Español) 
Kansas City Royals SB Nation Blog: Royals Review

Pitching Matchup

RHP Doug Fister (8-3, 3.21 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) vs. RHP Ian Kennedy (5-6, 4.19 ERA, 1.24 WHIP)

Preview

The Houston Astros have put up 26 runs against the Kansas City Royals over the past two games. Now the team's turns to arguably their best pitcher at the moment in Doug Fister to complete the sweep.

Doug Fister has pitched like the Astros ace since the start of May. He is coming off back-to-back seven innings, quality starts against the Cardinals and Angels.

Fister is 3-7 with 4.11 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) in his career against the Royals. He is 2-4 with 4.41 ERA in 6 games (five starts) at Kauffman stadium.

Current Royals are batting .289 (55x190) with against Fister a .333 BABIP, 3.36 FIP,  16.7 K%, and a 3.5 BB%.

Ian Kennedy, the Royals' key acquisition this offseason, started the season strong with a 2.77 ERA in April and a 3.24 ERA in May. But Kennedy has struggled in June with a 7.25 ERA in four starts. Kennedy only lasted four innings in his last start against the Mets on June 21, allowing two runs on four hits.

Kennedy is 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA in three starts against the Astors in his career. Current Astros are batting .169 (10x59) against Kennedy with a .186 BABIP, 4.01 FIP, 21.9 K%, and a 7.8 BB%.

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