Contrasting styles collide when Royals and Astros clash in Space City

The Kansas City Royals' contact-hitting approach is one reason they are developing into a mainstay as an AL contender.

The Houston Astros are using an all-or-nothing approach at the plate to muscle their way into contention.

These division leaders with contrasting hitting styles meet for the first time Monday night in Houston to start a three-game series.

Kansas City (44-28) ended its 29-year postseason drought last year, and the AL Central leaders are now out to win their first division title in 30 years. The contact-hitting Royals are second in the majors with a .273 average, have struck out the fewest times (420) and drawn the fewest walks (152).

"We know what we're up against, we know that they're a good team, they've got a good record, they've got good talent, they got a million guys going to the All-Star Game as of right now," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "So we'll show up prepared, ready to play and they're going to be a tough team to match up against."

Houston (44-34) leads the West and is poised to end a six-year stretch of losing seasons and qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. The Astros lead the majors with 110 homers and 728 strikeouts, and also are among baseball's leaders with 241 walks.

The Royals have won four straight after a three-game sweep at Oakland in which their pitchers did not allow a homer and their starters posted a 1.89 ERA. Kansas City has allowed the AL's fewest homers with 56.

Kansas City will get its first look at sensational Houston shortstop Carlos Correa, who is 5 for 8 with a homer and three doubles in his last two games. Correa has a .930 OPS since being recalled June 8 from the minors.

Lorenzo Cain figures to return to the lineup after he did not start Sunday's 5-3 win after tweaking his hamstring stealing a base Saturday. Eric Hosmer is day to day after he left early Sunday due to a sprained left ring finger suffered Saturday. Alcides Escobar is expected to start Monday despite having a split nail on his right index finger.

Kendrys Morales is batting .357 in an 11-game hitting streak.

The Royals will start Joe Blanton (2-0, 1.73 ERA), who improved to 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts after giving up one run in six-plus innings in last Monday's 4-1 victory at Seattle. It's been a remarkable turnaround since coming out of retirement.

"Being able to get back was kind of almost the pinnacle and now I'm just riding it out and enjoying it," he said.

The right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.77 ERA in seven career starts against the Astros. Jose Altuve is 5 for 14 against him and Chris Carter is 3 for 8 with three homers.

Blanton will be opposed by rookie Lance McCullers (3-2, 2.33), who is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in four home starts. The right-hander surrendered one run in six innings in Wednesday's 2-1, 13-inning defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.

McCullers is averaging 10.10 strikeouts per nine innings while limiting hitters to a .189 average.

The visiting team went 6-0 in this series last year.