Kansas City @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2013 ) Kansas City 2, Minnesota 6

Minnesota third baseman Trevor Plouffe has hit 20 percent of his 40 career homers against Kansas City. The Twins and Royals conclude a four-game series on Sunday, one day after Plouffe hit his eighth homer against Kansas City pitching to give Minnesota its second win over the first three contests. Plouffe had three RBIs and stretched his hitting streak to 11 games, the second-longest of his career behind last season’s 17-game stretch.

Kansas City scored three or fewer runs for the eighth time in 11 games when it fell 6-2 on Saturday. The Royals temporarily emerged from their offensive doldrums the previous night with a season-high four homers in a 9-3 win before being shut down by Minnesota’s Kyle Gibson in his first major-league outing. The Twins had scored three or fewer runs in four straight games before breaking through for five in the first inning on Saturday.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City, Fox Sports North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ervin Santana (5-5, 2.74 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kevin Correia (6-5, 3.82)

Santana has given up six earned runs over his last five outings while going 2-0 with three no-decisions. He beat Minnesota on April 8 when he allowed one run in eight innings to improve to 5-3 with a 3.95 ERA in 11 career starts against the Twins. Santana is 2-2 with a 2.27 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in seven road starts this season.

Correia is 1-1 over his last three outings despite giving up just five runs in 17 2/3 innings. He is 0-2 with a 4.38 ERA in two career starts against the Royals and lost to Santana in April when he gave up three runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. Correia is 4-1 with a 2.82 ERA in eight home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins C Joe Mauer, who is hitless in 10 at-bats in the series, is batting .467 with a homer in 30 career at-bats against Santana.

2. Kansas City designated OF Jeff Francoeur for assignment after Saturday’s game and recalled 2B Johnny Giavotella from Triple-A Omaha.

3. Minnesota OF Josh Willingham (knee) is expected back in the lineup after missing Saturday’s contest. He is batting .346 against the Royals this season.

PREDICTION: Royals 3, Twins 2