A couple of AL Central rivals face off on Friday, July 25 as the Cleveland Guardians take on the Kansas City Royals.

The Royals welcome the Atlanta Braves to Kauffman Stadium on Monday night. KC left-hander Rich Hill (0-1, 1.80 ERA) will make his second MLB start of the season opposite right-handed Braves ace Spencer Strider (4-8, 3.72 ERA).

The Guardians wasted a bases-loaded opportunity in the first inning Sunday against the Royals and it came back to haunt them.

The Kansas City Royals used good pitching, situational hitting and a good eye at the plate to take the series from the Cleveland Guardians with a 4-1 win. They are now a half game back of the Guardians and 4-5 versus them this season. The Royals are 52-54 on the season, heading into a monumental series against the scuffling Atlanta Braves.

Noah Cameron struck out six over five scoreless innings, while Maikel Garcia homered with two RBIs, as the host Kansas City Royals won 4-1 over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.

Cleveland is 52-52 overall and 27-27 in road games. The Guardians have a 27-10 record in games when they did not give up a home run. The teams meet Sunday for the ninth time this season. The Guardians lead the season series 5-3.

When the Kansas City Royals host the Cleveland Guardians in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon, both teams will have plenty on their minds.

Despite two homers from Steven Kwan on Thursday, the Guardians lost to the Orioles 4-3, but won the series 3-1. Cleveland is 5-2 in the seven games since the All-Star break and will go to Kansas City for a three-game series.

The Kansas City Royals' series opener against the visiting Cleveland Guardians was postponed Friday due to inclement weather.