Royals-Astros Preview

A home series sweep of the AL leading Kansas City Royals might provide another reason to believe the Houston Astros can remain a serious playoff contender as they approach the halfway point of the season.

They can do so by preventing Edinson Volquez from winning a fifth consecutive start Wednesday night.

Having witnessed Kansas City's surprise run to the World Series last season, Houston (46-34) might have the makings of a club on a similar path following four straight 90-loss seasons. After outscoring the Royals (44-30) 10-1 in the first two of this set, the Astros continue to move closer to the reigning AL champions.

Dallas Keuchel struck out seven over eight innings and George Springer hit a two-run homer to help the AL West leaders to a third consecutive victory, 4-0 on Tuesday. Though Keuchel fell short of his second straight complete game, he and the Astros have their sights set on the big picture.

"Most importantly we need to get through the game and get done, and have everybody feel good on the accumulation over the season," the left-hander said.

Kansas City totaled 21 runs during a four-game winning streak it took into this series, but has managed only a Salvador Perez homer and 12 other hits. The only time the Royals have been swept this season in a series of at least three games came at Yankee Stadium from May 25-27.

Volquez (8-4, 3.18 ERA) is 6-0 with a 2.09 ERA in eight starts against the Astros, but has not faced them since 2012.

The right-hander has a 2.96 ERA over his last four starts, and allowed one run, three hits and recorded his 1,000th strikeout in seven innings of Friday's 5-2 win at Oakland.

''I've been in the big leagues a long time, and that's like a goal,'' said Volquez, who has fanned a team-high 65. ''I finally got it.''

Luis Valbuena and Colby Rasmus are a combined 8 for 21 (.381) with two homers and four doubles versus Volquez. Rasmus, though, is expected to miss a fifth consecutive contest due to a skin infection on his left arm caused by a bug bite.

Evan Gattis is 0 for 5 against Volquez, but batting .389 in the last five games.

Teammate Vincent Velasquez (0-0, 3.72) lasted 6 1-3 innings - the longest of his four career starts - and gave up two runs during a 3-2 loss to the New York Yankees on Friday.

"All the other starts I wasn't having fun but (Friday), I really locked in and went out there and was myself," the right-hander told MLB's official website.

Manager A.J. Hinch also saw progress from Velasquez, who walked one after yielding 10 in the first three outings.

"Just a really, really good start to build on for him," he said. "That's his best outing, his best stuff."

Velasquez likely won't have to face Eric Hosmer, who is expected to miss a third straight game with a sprained left ring finger.

"We'll let the swelling go down and soreness go out," manager Ned Yost said."

Lorenzo Cain, who doubled twice and singled Tuesday for the Royals, is batting .360 in his last 14 games.