Minnesota @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 8, 2013 ) Minnesota 1, Kansas City 3

The Kansas City Royals will try to continue their recent surge when they host the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday in the second of three straight at Kauffman Stadium. After dropping their first two games of the season, the Royals have won four of five, with the one loss coming on a blown save in the ninth. They got eight superb innings from Ervin Santana and a big eighth-inning rally to pick up a 3-1 victory in the series-opener Monday.

Kansas City has shown an ability to win in many ways, hammering out 22 runs in two victories at Philadelphia over the weekend and also producing a pair of 3-1 wins during the 4-1 stretch. Minnesota, meanwhile, has made a habit of playing tight games. Monday was the Twins' fifth contest decided by two runs or less. Minnesota is 34-21 against Kansas City since the start of the 2010 season and is 63-41 at Kauffman Stadium under manager Ron Gardenhire.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), Fox Sports Kansas City (Kansas City)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Mike Pelfrey (1-0, 0.00) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (1-0, 1.50)

Pelfrey brought with him plenty of uncertainty after a difficult 2011 season and an injury-plagued 2012 campaign with the New York Mets. He showed in his Minnesota debut a flash of the guy who once won 15 games and also made at least 31 starts in four straight seasons. Pelfrey yielded two unearned runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings against the dangerous Detroit Tigers on Thursday. The 29-year-old has never faced Kansas City, but Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur is 6-for-19 with three doubles, a triple and a walk against him.

Guthrie earned the Royals respect with an impressive 14-start stint with them to close out 2012, earning a deal to return as a free agent. He picked up right where he left off with six stellar frames in a 3-1 victory over Chicago on Thursday. Guthrie struck out nine - his season high was eight a year ago - and walked one while giving up a run on five hits. The veteran right-hander was 4-2 with a 2.40 ERA in nine starts at Kauffman Stadium last season, and is 4-2, 3.31 in his career against the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins catcher Joe Mauer is 5-for-10 with a home run and three walks against Guthrie.

2. The Royals have had three different relievers record saves in the last five days. On Monday it was Aaron Crow's turn.

3. Monday marked the first game in which Minnesota scored first. It had been outscored 9-1 over the first two innings before plating a first-inning run.

PREDICTION: Royals 6, Twins 3