Right-hander Sonny Gray, in the midst of one of his best seasons, has held opponents scoreless in three of his last six starts, including seven innings of three-hit ball last Saturday against the Orioles.
He is scheduled to make his 27th start of the season for Boston.
Here’s a preview.
ROYALS (65-82): Jensen C, Witt Jr. SS, Pasquantino 1B, Perez DH, Massey 2B, Rave RF, Loftin 3B, Isbel CF, Collins LF
Pitching: RHP Seth Lugo (6-8, 5.04 ERA)
RED SOX (80-67): Anthony LF, Gasper DH, Rutschman C, Abreu RF, Story SS, Sogard 1B, Durbin 3B, Duran CF, Kiner-Falefa 2B
Pitching: RHP Sonny Gray (17-4, 2.69 ERA)
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Royals vs. Gray: Jac Caglianone 2-3, Isaac Collins 1-8, Kyle Isbel 3-8, Carter Jensen 0-2, Luke Maile 1-5, Michael Massey 2-8, Vinnie Pasquantino 3-12, Salvador Perez 6-36, Bobby Witt Jr. 4-20
Red Sox vs. Lugo: Wilyer Abreu 3-10, Jarren Duran 3-11, Nate Eaton 0-1, Mickey Gasper 1-4, Jahmai Jones 2-3, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 0-4, Andruw Monasterio 2-3, Adley Rutschman 1-6, Nick Sogard 1-6, Trevor Story 3-11, Connor Wong 1-5
Stat of the day: Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu is tied for the American League lead with 13 home runs since the All-Star break.
Notes: The Red Sox allowed six runs and double-digit hits in their last two losses and seven of their last 12 games. … Roman Anthony’s two-run home run Wednesday was his third since returning from injury on Aug. 30. … Gray defeated the Royals on May 18, striking out nine and allowing one run over six innings, to improve to 10-2 with a 1.74 ERA in his career against them. The Red Sox swept that three-game set in Kansas City. … The Royals’ Carter Jensen hit his 23rd homer on Wednesday, tying Jac Caglianone for the team lead and marking the second-most ever by a Royals rookie. The catcher is on a 14-game on-base streak, and each of his last nine hits have gone for extra bases. … Kansas City starter Seth Lugo, making his fifth career start against the Red Sox, is 0-5 with a 5.61 ERA in seven head-to-head appearances, but allowed just two runs over six innings on May 18 against Boston. … Lugo has allowed 12 runs on 17 hits over his last two starts (8 ⅔ innings).
Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.
Matt Pepin can be reached at matt.pepin@globe.com.