Minnesota @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Apr 9, 2013 ) Minnesota 4, Kansas City 7
The Kansas City Royals lost 12 consecutive games at one point last April, but may be a much different team this time around. Winners of three straight, the Royals will attempt to grab their fifth win in six tries Wednesday and complete a three-game home sweep against the Minnesota Twins. Kansas City went 6-15 over the first month of last season and did not record its first three-game sweep until June, but are on the verge of doing so after Tuesday's 7-4 rain-soaked victory over Minnesota.
One game after starter Kevin Correia could get only one run of support from his offense in a strong start Monday, the Twins’ Mike Pelfrey received three solo homers – matching the team’s output over its first seven games - but he could not make it stand up. The right-hander allowed each of the first five Royals’ batters to get a hit and score – the first time Kansas City achieved such a feat since April 28, 2007.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Northwest (Minnesota), Fox Sports Kansas City (Kansas City)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Liam Hendriks (0-0, 7.71 ERA) vs. Royals RH Wade Davis (0-0, 9.00)
Hendriks did not factor into the decision in Friday’s 9-5 loss at Baltimore after yielding four runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old Australian, who is 1-10 in 21 career starts, will be opposing the Royals for the fourth time – his most common opponent – but is 0-1 with a 7.24 ERA against them. Billy Butler (5-for-9), Mike Moustakas (5-for-6) and Salvador Perez (4-for-7) are among the Royals who have fared well against him.
Davis, who appeared 54 times in relief last season for Tampa Bay, surrendered four runs and nine hits – including two home runs – in this first start since 2011 on Friday at Philadelphia. Although he has struggled in two starts at Kauffman Stadium (0-1, 5.11 ERA), Davis is 15-12 with a 3.44 ERA over 63 career home appearances. Acquired along with James Shields and Elliot Johnson in a seven-player trade this off-season, Davis is 2-0 with a 4.75 ERA in six appearances – including five starts – against the Twins.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Royals pushed across five runs in the first inning Tuesday after not scoring a run in the first two innings of their first seven games.
2. Twins C Joe Mauer has 10 home runs, 89 RBIs and a .355 average in 118 career games against Kansas City.
3. Moustakas committed an error in the fifth inning Tuesday, ending the Royals’ season-opening errorless streak of 64 2/3 innings.
PREDICTION: Royals 7, Twins 5