(SportsNetwork.com) - Liam Hendriks figures to be a bit more prepared on Thursday evening when he makes a spot start for the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a four-game series with the Boston Red Sox.

Hendriks, a recent September callup, was forced into lengthy action on Saturday when starter Danny Duffy exited after just one pitch. Duffy will miss his start tonight due to shoulder inflammation, with Hendriks stepping in.

It will mark the right-hander's third appearance and second start with the Royals since being acquired from Toronto. He was solid in a start on Aug. 27 versus Minnesota, giving up one run over seven frames of a no-decision.

Against the Yankees last weekend, he took the loss for giving up four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits over four innings following Duffy's quick exit.

"He was erratic in the zone today I would say, not out of the zone," manager Ned Yost said on Kansas City's website. "He threw a number of pitches that ended up middle-middle that ended up getting hit. But he's going to come at you."

Hendriks lost the only other time he faced Boston, giving up seven runs over four innings.

The Royals begin a 10-game homestand still leading the American League Central by a game over Detroit. The Tigers forged a tie top the division by winning the first two contests of a three-game set between the clubs, but Kansas City salvaged the finale on Wednesday with a 3-0 win.

James Shields fired seven scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out eight.

"It's definitely a game that we needed for sure, but I think every game from here on out is pretty crucial," said Shields, who retired 18 in a row at one point and has hurled 18 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.

Kansas City caps its homestand with another three meetings against Detroit.

Boston and starter Clay Buchholz will look to play spoiler tonight, with the right-hander having appeared to hit his stride as of late. Buchholz has won his last two starts, his first victories since beating Kansas City back on July 18.

The righty followed a three-hit shutout of Tampa Bay on Aug. 31 by holding Toronto to a pair of runs on four hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings on Saturday. He improved to 7-8 with a 5.29 earned run average on the year.

Buchholz beat the Royals on July 18 despite allowing four runs and 10 hits over six frames. He is 5-1 lifetime versus the club with a 2.79 ERA.

The 30-year-old's win kicked off what was a three-game sweep of the Royals in Boston, but the Red Sox did lost three of four last year in Kansas City.

Boston has lost four in a row overall, recently getting swept in three games by the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles.

Starter Brandon Workman was tagged for five earned runs over three innings in a 10-6 setback to the Orioles on Wednesday.

"I have to do a better job of limiting damage," Workman said. "Seems like lately, it's been one inning that's gotten me. In Seattle, at New York, or today, it's one inning that all my runs have come in."

Xander Bogaerts and Carlos Rivero homered for the Red Sox, who are 63-83 on season after winning the World Series.