Kansas City @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2018 ) Kansas City 9, Minnesota 4

The Kansas City Royals snapped a pair of streaks with a rare offensive outburst and can pick up consecutive wins for the first time since the end of May when they finish a three-game series at the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. The Royals averaged 2.8 runs during a 10-game slide before erupting for 15 hits in a 9-4 win over the Twins on Tuesday.

Adalberto Mondesi had a home run and four RBIs for Kansas City, which also snapped the Twins' season high-tying five-game winning streak. Brian Dozier slugged a solo homer to provide a highlight for Minnesota and the star second baseman has two home runs, two doubles and two walks during a five-game hitting streak. Burch Smith will be making his first start since Sept. 27, 2013, when he toes the rubber in the series finale for the Royals in place of Jason Hammel, who was moved to the bullpen. Lance Lynn goes for the Twins, who remained 8 1/2 games behind slumping Cleveland in the American League Central.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Kansas City, FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Burch Smith (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Twins RH Lance Lynn (6-7, 5.21)

Smith has appeared in 24 games out of the bullpen, including four scoreless innings of relief against the Boston Red Sox on Friday. He was 1-3 with a 7.26 ERA as a starter with the San Diego Padres in 2013 but had 42 strikeouts in only 31 innings while in that role. The 28-year-old gave up seven runs in just three innings of relief in two games against the Twins earlier in the year.

Lynn gave up seven runs over 1 2/3 innings two turns ago at Wrigley Field before bouncing back against the last-place Baltimore Orioles on Friday. He held them to a run and six hits over six innings to post his sixth quality start in the last nine outings overall. One of those quality starts came May 28 at Kansas City, as the former first-round pick limited the Royals to two runs across six innings to get the win.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals 2B Whit Merrifield is hitting .460 during a 12-game hitting streak.

2. Twins 1B Joe Mauer remains tied with Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett for the franchise lead with 414 career doubles.

3. Minnesota LF Eddie Rosario has hit safely in 10 straight against the Royals.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, Royals 3