Both the Royals' Homer Bailey and the Mariners' Yusei Kikuchi can take some confidence from their last starts into Tuesday night when they face each other in Seattle.

Bailey (5-6, 5.37 ERA), a Kansas City right-hander, is coming off a 7-3 victory against the Detroit Tigers in Omaha, Neb., in which he pitched six scoreless innings and allowed just two singles with three walks and six strikeouts.

It was Bailey's best start since April 13, when he threw seven scoreless innings against the Cleveland Indians. That was also the last time the Royals had won a series before taking two of three from the Tigers last week, snapping an 0-14-2 series skid.