Minnesota @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2013 ) Minnesota 0, Kansas City 13

The surging Kansas City Royals rocked Minnesota in the series opener and attempt to beat the visiting Twins for the 12th time in 15 meetings this season in Tuesday’s second contest of their three-game set. Eric Hosmer homered and recorded a career-best five RBIs while Jeremy Guthrie pitched a four-hit shutout in Kansas City’s 13-0 win on Monday. Minnesota is 13 games below .500 and just 22-34 on the road.

Mike Moustakas registered his second career four-hit performance on Monday and is 9-for-15 with two homers and seven RBIs in four games against the Twins over the last seven days. Kansas City’s hot streak has put it in the American League wild-card chase, but the Royals haven’t been able to make up ground in the AL Central as first-place Detroit has won nine consecutive games. Minnesota's Joe Mauer had a single in the opener and is just 2-for-14 over his last four games.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Andrew Albers (NR) vs. Royals RH James Shields (6-7, 3.08)

The 27-year-old Albers will be making his major-league debut. He was experiencing a fine season at Triple-A Rochester, going 11-5 with a 2.86 ERA and leading the International League with 116 strikeouts. Albers pitched for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic this past spring.

Shields has won back-to-back starts, including a victory over the Twins on Thursday in which he gave up two runs and five hits over six innings. He also defeated Minnesota on June 28 – allowing three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 frames – and is 6-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 13 career outings against the Twins. Shields is 1-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 10 home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins 1B Justin Morneau is batting .371 with three homers and six doubles in 35 career at-bats against Shields.

2. Hosmer is hitting .333 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 57 at-bats versus Minnesota this season.

3. Minnesota OF Josh Willingham (knee) began a minor-league rehab assignment on Monday and is expected to rejoin the Twins before the end of the week.

PREDICTION: Royals 7, Twins 4