Kansas City @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2018 ) Kansas City 1, Minnesota 3

One of five candidates for the final spot on the American League All-Star team, Minnesota Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario has presented a compelling case to the voters. Rosario is hitting .300 with 18 home runs and 54 RBIs for the Twins, who continue their three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.

The Twins have won five in a row following a six-game losing streak and are making a concerted effort to support Rosario, who shares the final vote ballot with the New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton, Boston’s Andrew Benintendi, Seattle’s Jean Segura and the Los Angeles Angels’ Andrelton Simmons. “I think he’s played like an All-Star,” Minnesota manager Paul Molitor told reporters. “For me to imagine that there are X amount of players on that All-Star team that are better is almost unfathomable.” Joe Mauer and Eduardo Escobar recorded three hits apiece in Monday’s 3-1 win over Kansas City, which has lost 10 straight and 28 of 32. Whit Merrifield has been one of the Royals' few bright spots, going 21-for-47 during his 11-game hitting streak.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-8, 5.11 ERA) vs. Twins RH Aaron Slegers (1-0, 2.38)

After missing one start due to an oblique injury, Kennedy will be activated from the disabled list prior to Tuesday’s contest. The 33-year-old Californian has gone 15 starts without a win dating back to April 7, the longest active winless streak in the majors. Rosario is 7-for-17 with a home run against Kennedy, who is 4-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 12 career starts versus Minnesota - including an 0-3 record and 6.43 mark in five outings last season.

Slegers recorded his first major-league victory on Thursday and earned another start after holding Baltimore to one run over six innings in the Twins’ 5-2 win. “It’s nice,” he told reporters. “It’s fun to have that in the stat column, be a major-league winner. I can say that for the rest of my life.” The 25-year-old rookie made his season debut on May 30 against Kansas City, allowing two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 frames of relief.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Royals have lost 11 consecutive series dating back to the end of May, when they took two of three from the Twins.

2. Rosario has hit safely in nine straight games against the Royals.

3. Kansas City MGR Ned Yost said RHP Burch Smith will start Wednesday’s series finale, replacing struggling RHP Jason Hammel in the rotation.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, Royals 5