AP Sports Preview NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Kansas City Royals and New York Mets, tied at 38-54, meet Thursday evening at Citi Field for the finale of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. under clear skies with a game-time temperature of 81 degrees. The Mets took Wednesday’s contest 1-0, bouncing back from Tuesday’s wild 16-12 loss to Kansas City. Thursday’s rubber match pits two teams desperate to gain momentum before the All-Star break. Both clubs have struggled to .500 aspirations, but recent offensive outbursts — particularly from Royals outfielder Tyler Tolbert and Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing — have provided sparks. Tolbert enters on an unprecedented hot streak. The 27-year-old went 5-for-6 with a home run and two RBIs in Tuesday’s win, one day after a 5-for-5, one-homer, two-RBI performance against Philadelphia. Over his last four games, Tolbert is 12-for-13 with two homers and four RBIs, a surge that has lifted a Royals lineup averaging just over four runs per game this season. Ewing has been equally formidable. He matched Tolbert’s production Tuesday with a 4-for-4, one-homer, three-RBI night. Across his last two games, Ewing is 6-for-8 with two homers and four RBIs. The 25-year-old has provided stability atop a Mets lineup that has endured its share of inconsistency, despite contributions from Juan Soto and reliever Huascar Brazobán. Kansas City’s offense has shown an ability to erupt, scoring 16 runs Tuesday and 15 against Philadelphia on Monday. But the Royals have also been shut out in three of their last seven contests, including Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat. New York’s pitching, meanwhile, held KC scoreless Wednesday after allowing 16 runs the afternoon before. The simulation model at Interstat projects a 5-4 Royals victory, though the Mets’ ability to manufacture runs in tight games — they won 7-6 in 10 innings at Atlanta on Monday — suggests this could be another nail-biter. After Thursday, Kansas City travels to Baltimore for a three-game series starting Friday. The Mets host Boston for a three-game set beginning Friday.