Kansas City @ Minnesota preview

Kansas City at Minnesota

Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2013 ) Kansas City 9, Minnesota 8

The Kansas City Royals try to continue their second-half surge Tuesday when they visit American League Central rival Minnesota Twins for the opener of a three-game series. Kansas City has gone 8-2 since the All-Star break, splitting the first four contests before winning six in a row. The Royals, who are seven games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers, completed a three-game sweep at Chicago and reached the .500 mark by outlasting the White Sox 4-2 in 12 innings Sunday.

Minnesota returns home after going 4-3 on its seven-game road trip. The Twins took two of three from the Angels in Los Angeles before splitting a four-game set against the Seattle Mariners. The club is expected to welcome Joe Mauer back to the lineup, as the All-Star catcher missed the previous six games to be with his wife for the birth of their twins.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ervin Santana (6-6, 3.06 ERA) vs. Twins RH Mike Pelfrey (4-8, 5.15)

Santana was forced to settle for a no-decision against Baltimore on Wednesday despite allowing just three runs - one earned - over eight innings. The 30-year-old Dominican has yielded three or fewer earned runs in nine of 10 starts since the beginning of June but has won only three of those outings. Santana is 5-3 lifetime against the Twins but did not receive a decision after giving up four runs - three earned - in six frames on June 30 at Minnesota.

Pelfrey deserved a better fate at Los Angeles on Wednesday: he lost despite limiting the Angels to one run over six innings. The 29-year-old has pitched well over his last eight starts, allowing three or fewer runs seven times, but is just 1-3 in that span. Pelfrey lost his first career start against the Royals before settling for a no-decision at Kansas City on June 6, when he surrendered three runs in 6 1/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pelfrey is 2-3 with a 5.33 ERA in nine home starts this season.

2. Kansas City OF Lorenzo Cain is expected back after missing Sunday's game with tightness in his left groin.

3. Twins 2B Brian Dozier could miss the series opener after leaving Sunday's loss in Seattle with a stiff lower back.

PREDICTION: Royals 3, Twins 1