***** Official Los Angeles Dodgers @ Kansas City Royals Game Thread (6/25) *****

[TLO]

Spoiler!

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index...rId=LR_preview

The Royals send their ace to the mound in the Interleague finale with the Dodgers on Wednesday.

The teams split the first two games as Kansas City won Monday, 5-3, then Los Angeles triumphed on Tuesday, 2-0.

James Shields' body of work earns him the "ace" label, but his last few outings have not lived up to his reputation. Shields will look to break out of his June funk (4.81 ERA, 24 1/3 innings) against the Dodgers at Kauffman Stadium.

Shields (8-3, 3.70 ERA) is coming off a gritty but uneven outing against the Mariners on Friday. He gutted out seven innings but surrendered nine hits and five runs.

Shields was victimized by the long ball as Logan Morrison and Mike Zunino took the righty deep to build a 5-0 lead through five innings.

"My results weren't as good as I wanted to be," Shields said. "I made two bad pitches that cost me four runs, and sometimes that's going to happen."

Shields settled down and shut the Mariners down in the sixth and seventh, buying the Royals time to eventually tie the score. Seattle went on to win, 7-5, as Shields took a no-decision.

In 267 career starts, Shields has never faced the Dodgers.

Dan Haren gets the call opposite Shields as the veteran righty will also be looking to make amends after a rough start to the month.

Haren entered June with a 3.28 ERA, but it's risen to 3.62 in four starts. He allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Padres last Friday. Although, Haren's five strikeouts broke a streak of four straight games with just two. He took a no-decision in Los Angeles' 6-5 loss.

The righty's issues come in the early innings: He's allowed at least one run in the first or second inning in 10 consecutive starts.

Haren owns a 5-2 record and a 2.77 ERA against the Royals in 11 career starts.

Royals: Dyson set for return
• With left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw on the mound Tuesday, Royals manager Ned Yost honored his platoon and sat a hot Jarrod Dyson in favor of Justin Maxwell.

Dyson put together a monster game on Monday with three singles, two RBIs, a run scored, two steals and a fantastic catch.

The center fielder, now playing regularly because of an injury to Nori Aoki, upped his average to a career-high .305.

Dyson is expected back in the lineup on Wednesday with Haren, a righty, on the mound.

Dodgers: Ramirez hurting
• Hanley Ramirez's status for the series finale remains in doubt after the shortstop sat out Tuesday.

Ramirez slugged a two-run double in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Royals, but recurring discomfort in his arthritic right A/C joint at the top of his shoulder knocked him out of the lineup the next night. Ramirez received a cortisone injection for the injury two weeks ago, and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he "hasn't heard anything about" another cortisone shot.

Ramirez was absent in pregame on-field activities and did not speak with reporters.

"At this point, I'm not that concerned," Mattingly said. "He's had a little of this over the last couple of years and we've always been able to give him treatment. If this persists, we'll have to get testing done, but I don't see it. He's day to day. I don't look at it like it will be a big thing."

Worth noting
• The Dodgers won for the first time in franchise history at Kauffman Satidum
• Eric Hosmer snapped an 0-for-12 drought with a pair of singles Tuesday.

[blake1771]

do we actually have anyone else that can play short?

[petegz28]

A pitch 3 feet outside is an important pitch, Hud?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by blake1771

do we actually have anyone else that can play short?

Ciriaco is about it.

[PHOG]

I'm thinking BGJ is eating too much BBQ?? He doesn't look quite right?

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by petegz28

It's sad when you have to consistently score 5-6 runs whenever your "ace" is starting. I'd almost lay money that Shields will give the run right back

Wish I could say I didn't see it coming but.....

[blake1771]

Originally Posted by petegz28

It's sad when you have to consistently score 5-6 runs whenever your "ace" is starting. I'd almost lay money that Shields will give the run right back

nailed it

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by bsroyals54

fast little ****er

Wtf?

[ROYC75]

Damn, another hard hit.

[PHOG]

Heater at 92?

[petegz28]

Once again we are going to have to score at least 5 if not more because of Shields

[lewdog]

Should have been another LA run there. Lucky.

[PHOG]

Gold Glove saved that one.

[bsroyals54]

hosmer is 10x the corner infielder that moustakas is , more range and isn't a fat ****.

[ROYC75]

Good play Hos.......

[PHOG]

Has he been going to the eateries with Belly?