Kansas City @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2019 ) Kansas City 3, Minnesota 4

The Minnesota Twins' magic number to clinch their first American League Central title since 2010 is five with eight games remaining - a more than attainable goal given their combined 22-8 record this season against the remaining teams on the schedule. The Twins attempt to take another step toward the division crown on Saturday, when they go for a sixth consecutive win over the visiting Kansas City Royals.

Minnesota (95-59) held off a late surge from Kansas City on Friday to come away with a 4-3 victory, maintaining its four-game advantage over Cleveland in the division. Marwin Gonzalez delivered a key two-run double in the sixth inning for the Twins, who shouldn't have much trouble sealing the deal as they have five more games versus the Royals (56-99) and three against AL-worst Detroit (45-106) as they seek only the second 100-win season in club history (102 in 1965). Kansas City has dropped four straight and seven of eight to move one game away from its second 100-loss campaign in three years. The Royals, who are 3-11 against the Twins in 2019, also have not homered in five straight contests.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (4-11, 6.02 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (13-8, 3.58)

Sparkman allowed at least one home run for the sixth straight outing and continued to struggle on Monday in a no-decision at Oakland, surrendering four runs on six hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old is 4-10 with a 6.34 ERA in his 21 starts (0-1, 4.08 in eight relief appearances) and has permitted at least four runs in 13 of them. Jorge Polanco is 5-for-12 with a home run versus Sparkman, who is 1-1 with a 5.94 ERA in three starts against Minnesota this season.

Berrios won for the third time in four turns on Monday, holding the Chicago White Sox to two runs while registering eight strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings. The two-time All-Star was dominant in his previous outing as well, allowing two hits over seven scoreless frames in a win against Washington. Berrios has settled for a no-decision in both of his starts against Kansas City this season, yielding three runs over seven innings on April 2 and two in seven frames on June 22.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Twins need four more runs to top the 1930 Washington Senators (892) for most in a season in franchise history.

2. Kansas City SS Adalberto Mondesi recorded two stolen bases on Friday, becoming the 10th player in club history with 40 steals and 10 triples in the same season.

3. Gonzalez is batting .333 with 21 RBIs with runners in scoring position and two outs this season.

PREDICTION: Twins 7, Royals 1