Cubs visit the Royals to open 3-game series

Chicago Cubs (67-49, second in the NL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (48-68, fifth in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Kevin Gausman (5-10, 4.38 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 127 strikeouts); Royals: Daniel Lynch (4-2, 1.96 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 35 strikeouts)

LINE: Cubs -168, Royals +139; over/under is 10 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals start a three-game series at home against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Kansas City has gone 28-28 in home games and 48-68 overall. The Royals have a 20-13 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.

Chicago has a 67-49 record overall and a 32-25 record on the road. Cubs hitters have a collective .338 on-base percentage, the second-best percentage in the majors.

The matchup Friday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Carter Jensen has 24 doubles, a triple and 15 home runs for the Royals. Jac Caglianone is 10 for 40 with a double and two home runs over the last 10 games.

Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs with 55 extra base hits (22 doubles, seven triples and 26 home runs). Nico Hoerner is 12 for 36 with a double, two home runs and six RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 4-6, .231 batting average, 4.11 ERA, outscored by six runs

Cubs: 7-3, .250 batting average, 2.32 ERA, outscored opponents by 20 runs

INJURIES: Royals: Luinder Avila: 60-Day IL (forearm), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Mears: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (elbow), Connor Seabold: 60-Day IL (lat), Maikel Garcia: 10-Day IL (hand), Vinnie Pasquantino: 10-Day IL (wrist), Beck Way: 15-Day IL (back), Carlos Estevez: 60-Day IL (foot), Stephen Kolek: 60-Day IL (flexor), Jonathan India: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Cubs: Hoby Milner: 15-Day IL (appendicitis), Christopher Austin: 60-Day IL (knee), Riley Martin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Phil Maton: 15-Day IL (knee), Clay Holmes: 60-Day IL (fibula), Ben Brown: 60-Day IL (neck), Ethan Roberts: 15-Day IL (forearm), Matt Shaw: 10-Day IL (hand), Gavin Hollowell: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Daniel Palencia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Edward Cabrera: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (tricep), Porter Hodge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cade Horton: 60-Day IL (forearm), Shelby Miller: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.