Minnesota @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2019 ) Kansas City 8, Minnesota 12

Having clinched the American League Central title, the Minnesota Twins really do not have anything to play for as they prepare for a likely postseason matchup with the New York Yankees. The Twins do have a shot at a handful of team and individual records as they go for their 100th win in the opener of a three-game series at the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Jonathan Schoop homered among two hits and drove in three runs in Thursday's 10-4 rout of Detroit, putting Minnesota within one victory of giving Major League Baseball four teams with 100 wins for the first time. Willians Astudillo collected four hits and swatted the team's record 301st homer, putting the Twins two ahead of the Yankees for the major league lead. Jose Berrios goes for his 14th victory for Minnesota when he opposes lefty Eric Skoglund, seeking his first win since April 2018. Rookie Nicky Lopez is 7-for-11 with four RBIs over the past three games for Kansas City, which dropped three of four in Minnesota last weekend.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH José Berríos (13-8, 3.70 ERA) vs. Royals LH Eric Skoglund (0-2, 7.50)

Berrios will look to atone for a rocky start against the Royals on Saturday when he was tagged for five runs and eight hits over six innings of a no-decision. He won his previous two turns, beating the Chicago White Sox with 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball and blanking Washington on two hits over seven frames. Ryan O'Hearn is 5-for-10 with two homers off Berrios, who had two strong outings earlier this season, going seven innings in each and allowing two and three runs, respectively.

Making his third start and fifth appearance of the season, Skoglund was charged with a pair of runs -- both in the first inning -- and three hits over four innings at Minnesota a week ago. The 26-year-old took the loss in his previous appearance versus Houston, again working four innings while permitting three runs on four hits. Skoglund, who was 1-6 with a 5.14 ERA in 14 appearances (13 starts) in 2018, has eight walks while registering only two strikeouts in 18 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins DH Nelson Cruz is 10-for-22 with three home runs and nine RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.

2. Royals DH Jorge Soler has hit safely in five straight games.

3. Twins LF Eddie Rosario has a homer, four doubles and seven RBIs during a three-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, Royals 4