Phillies vs Royals Preview: Deep Philly Aces Face KC Closer

The Philadelphia Phillies roll into Kansas City with one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. Jesus Luzardo takes the mound Sunday, ready to shut down the Royals. The 27-year-old Venezuelan-American pitcher led his country in the World Baseball Classic and now anchors Philadelphia's rotation. Behind Luzardo stands ace Zack Wheeler and closer Jhoan Duran. The Phillies' arms give them a huge advantage. Philadelphia sits at 49-39, hungry to keep winning. Kansas City struggles at 35-53 and desperately needs a spark. The pitching matchup heavily favors the visitors.

Michael Wacha is the Royals' probable pitcher for Sunday. The 34-year-old veteran brings experience from five MLB teams before landing in Kansas City. Wacha owns a solid 3.05 ERA this season with 26 strikeouts. The Royals' rotation lost Cole Ragans to elbow surgery, a huge blow. Wacha must step up as a leader on the mound. Kansas City's closer Carlos Estévez provides strength in late innings. But the Royals offense struggles badly. They need runs to win. Wacha's performance Sunday will set the tone for the entire game.

The Royals' lineup is banged up and struggling. Star catcher Salvador Perez just broke the Kauffman Stadium home run record with his 137th blast there. But Maikel Garcia sits out with a hand strain, and Vinkie Pasquantino recovers from hand surgery. Kansas City averaged just three wins in their last ten games. Philadelphia won seven of ten. The Phillies' position players pack serious punch to go with their pitching dominance. Sunday's game feels like a mismatch on paper. The Royals must find a way to score early and often to stay close against such a talented visitor.