Kansas City @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2018 ) Kansas City 4, Minnesota 1

After narrowly avoiding a no-hitter from a little-known young pitcher, the Minnesota Twins hope an inexperienced arm of their own can steal the spotlight. The Twins send Chase De Jong to the mound for his Minnesota debut in the rubber match of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Jorge Lopez took a perfect game into the ninth inning Saturday before a leadoff walk to Max Kepler and Robbie Grossman’s single moments later spoiled his chance to make history. The Royals still snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 win and evened the season series at seven wins apiece. The Twins have lost six of their last seven overall. Minnesota is 40-30 at home but has lost four of its last five at Target Field.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-8, 5.13 ERA) vs. Twins RH Chase De Jong (2017: 0-3, 6.35)

Kennedy is set to come off the disabled list and make his first start since July 10, also at Minnesota. The 33-year-old has not won since his second start of the season on April 7, and he has posted only three quality starts in his last 15 outings. Kennedy is 4-4 with a 4.59 ERA in 13 starts against the Twins, and he allowed two runs over three innings in a no-decision in the last meeting.

De Jong was acquired from Seattle in July for Zach Duke. He last pitched in the majors on June 15, 2017, when he faced the Twins in Minnesota while with the Mariners. The 24-year-old went 7-8 with a 3.66 ERA in 28 games (26 starts) in the minors this season, pitching for Double-A Arkansas until he was traded to the Twins and assigned to Triple-A Rochester.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano (knee) and 1B Tyler Austin (back stiffness) have missed the first two games of the series.

2. Royals INF Adalberto Mondesi has 15 stolen bases since the All-Star break - tied for the most in the majors.

3. Kansas City 2B/OF Whit Merrifield has reached base in all eight games he has played at Target Field this season and 18 of 19 in his career.

PREDICTION: Royals 5, Twins 4