Athletics and Royals play, winner secures 3-game series

Kansas City Royals (81-80, third in the AL Central) vs. Athletics (76-85, fourth in the AL West)

West Sacramento, California; Sunday, 3:05 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Royals: Cole Ragans (3-3, 5.02 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 90 strikeouts); Athletics: Brady Basso (1-0, 1.74 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, eight strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The Athletics and Kansas City Royals play on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series.

The Athletics have a 76-85 record overall and a 36-44 record in home games. The Athletics have a 64-37 record in games when they record at least eight hits.

Kansas City has a 38-42 record in road games and an 81-80 record overall. Royals pitchers have a collective 3.75 ERA, which ranks sixth in MLB play.

The teams square off Sunday for the sixth time this season. The Athletics are ahead 4-1 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Soderstrom has 34 doubles, a triple, 25 home runs and 93 RBIs while hitting .277 for the Athletics. Shea Langeliers is 16 for 42 with four doubles and a home run over the past 10 games.

Vinnie Pasquantino ranks second on the Royals with 65 extra base hits (32 doubles, a triple and 32 home runs). Salvador Perez is 9 for 35 with a double, two home runs and 11 RBIs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Athletics: 5-5, .222 batting average, 3.78 ERA, outscored by eight runs

Royals: 6-4, .280 batting average, 3.16 ERA, outscored opponents by 26 runs

INJURIES: Athletics: Sean Newcomb: 15-Day IL (elbow), Zack Gelof: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Ben Bowden: 60-Day IL (lat), Joey Estes: 15-Day IL (back), Jacob Lopez: 15-Day IL (flexor), Jack Perkins: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Austin Wynns: 60-Day IL (abdomen), Denzel Clarke: 10-Day IL (abductor), Grant Holman: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Gunnar Hoglund: 60-Day IL (hip), Jose Leclerc: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Luis Medina: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Royals: Lucas Erceg: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Bergert: 15-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Isbel: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Seth Lugo: 15-Day IL (back), Bailey Falter: 15-Day IL (biceps), Hunter Harvey: 15-Day IL (abductor), Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), 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.