Preview: Sandy Alcantara starts on day after his birthday as Marlins try to avoid being swept by Royals

Published Sep. 8, 2019 3:21 p.m. ET

TV: FOX Sports Florida

TIME: Pregame coverage begins at 12:30 p.m.

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Kansas City Royals (53-90, fourth in the AL Central) vs. Miami Marlins (50-91, fifth in the AL East)

PITCHING PROBABLES

Royals: Mike Montgomery (3-7, 4.42 ERA)

Marlins: Sandy Alcantara (4-12, 4.26 ERA)

LINE

Marlins -106; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE

Kansas City can secure a series sweep over Miami with a win.

The Marlins are 28-45 in home games. Miami has hit 123 home runs this season, last in the league. Brian Anderson leads the team with 20, averaging one every 23 at-bats.

The Royals are 24-46 on the road. Kansas City is slugging .399 as a unit. Hunter Dozier leads the team with a slugging percentage of .552. The Royals won the last meeting 7-2. Danny Duffy earned his sixth victory and Jorge Soler went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI for Kansas City. Adam Conley took his eighth loss for Miami.

TOP PERFORMERS

Starlin Castro leads the Marlins with 74 RBIs and is batting .268. Harold Ramirez is 9-for-30 with a double, three home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games for Miami.

Soler leads the Royals with 41 home runs and is batting .251. Dozier is 16-for-40 with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and nine RBIs over the last 10 games for Kansas City.

LAST 10 GAMES

Marlins: 3-7, .209 batting average, 5.08 ERA, outscored by 23 runs

Royals: 7-3, .285 batting average, 5.10 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

Marlins Injuries: Jordan Yamamoto: (arm), Drew Steckenrider: (elbow), Julian Fernandez: (elbow), Austin Brice: (forearm), JT Riddle: (forearm), Cesar Puello: (hip), Brian Anderson: (hand), Chad Wallach: (concussion).

Royals Injuries: Trevor Oaks: (hip), Jake Newberry: (shoulder), Salvador Perez: (elbow).