Kansas City Royals Team Report - April 18th

(Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals attempt to snap a two-game slide tonight when they open a six-game homestand with a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City, which sits atop the AL Central with a 11-3 mark, comes into Friday's contest after dropping two of three to the Chicago White Sox, including Thursday's 8-2 setback.

Brandon Berger knocked in a run on two hits for the Royals, who have suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season. Chris George (2-1) suffered the defeat after getting tagged for eight runs in 4 2/3 innings. The southpaw, who had posted victories in his first two starts of the season, also allowed seven hits and four walks, while striking out only one.

The Royals, though, will get an added boost tonight with the return of centerfielder Carlos Beltran, who is expected to be in the lineup for the first time this season. Beltran, who has scored and driven in at least 100 runs in three of the last four seasons, has been on the disabled list since March 21 with a strained right oblique.

Darrell May gets the call tonight for the Royals and is 0-1 on the season with a 6.75 ERA. In his only start of the season, the 30-year-old leftthander allowed three runs on seven hits over four innings in a loss to the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

May has faced the Tigers three times in his career, two of which have been starts, and is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA.

The Royals are 15-4 at Kauffman Stadium since the start of the 2001 season against the Tigers.

04/18 13:15:37 ET