The Minnesota Twins are set to host the Kansas City Royals in a pivotal three-game series beginning Monday evening in Minneapolis. After consecutive losses, the Twins are looking to rebound and maintain their slim half-game lead over the Royals for second place in the American League Central. Both teams are trailing the division-leading Cleveland Guardians, who recently edged out the Twins with a 5-3 victory on Sunday.
Despite the recent setbacks, Twins outfielder Byron Buxton remains optimistic as the team shifts its focus to this crucial series. “It’s just one series,” Buxton commented. “We’ve got seven weeks of baseball left. This series won’t define our season.”
The Royals, fresh off an 8-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals, are beginning a six-game road trip that includes stops in Minneapolis and Cincinnati. Kansas City will rely on right-hander Brady Singer (8-7, 3.03 ERA) to set the tone in the opener. Singer, who has recorded 121 strikeouts in 130 2/3 innings this season, is eager to bounce back from a shaky outing against the Boston Red Sox, where he surrendered four runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Minnesota will counter with right-hander Pablo Lopez (10-8, 4.74 ERA), making his 24th start of the season. Lopez, who has fanned 144 batters in 129 innings, is also coming off a loss, having allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings against the Chicago Cubs. However, he boasts a solid track record against Kansas City, holding a 4-1 record with a 2.41 ERA in five career starts against the Royals. Notably, he earned a win on Opening Day against Kansas City, giving up just one run over seven innings.
The Royals are hopeful that second baseman Michael Massey, who missed Saturday’s game due to low-back tightness, will be able to return to the lineup soon. However, they’ll be without reliever Hunter Harvey, who was placed on the 15-day IL over the weekend due to mid-back tightness. Reliever Carlos Hernandez has been called up from Triple-A Omaha to fill the gap.
On the other side, Byron Buxton is heating up at the right time for the Twins. The outfielder blasted two home runs in Sunday’s game, bringing his season totals to 16 homers and 49 RBIs. “He’s been swinging the bat great,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “I think he feels pretty good about where he’s at right now physically.”
As both teams battle for playoff positioning, this series could play a significant role in shaping the rest of their seasons.
Leave a Reply