Minnesota @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2019 ) Minnesota 6, Kansas City 2

The Minnesota Twins have shown no sign of slowing down since clinching the American League Central earlier this week and can push their winning streak to six in a row when they continue a three-game series at the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. A rain-shortened 6-2 win in Friday's series opener gave the Twins 100 victories for the second time in franchise history.

Jose Berrios, who is lined up to start Game 1 of the AL Division Series at Yankee Stadium on Friday, allowed two runs in six innings with nine strikeouts in Friday's win. He was backed by two more home runs as Minnesota pushed its season total to 303, two behind the Yankees in the record-setting race in that category. Minnesota will try to keep pace with New York when it faces Royals right-hander Glenn Sparkman on Saturday. The Twins counter with a bullpen day behind opener Cody Stashak.

TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Cody Stashak (0-1, 3.13 ERA) vs. Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (4-11, 6.11)

Stashak will be making his first career start after 17 appearances out of the bullpen. He has allowed just one run over 7 1/3 innings in September while recording 10 strikeouts. Manager Rocco Baldelli announced that Martin Perez will start the finale of the regular season Sunday.

Sparkman has completed as many as five innings just once in his last six starts, going 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in that span. He gave up five runs (four earned) over four innings in a no-decision against the Twins last Saturday. Nelson Cruz is 4-for-9 with a home run and a double against Sparkman, who has a 6.51 ERA in eight career games (four starts) versus Minnesota.

WALK-OFFS

1. The game was moved from 7:15 p.m. ET to 2:15 due to the threat of rain Saturday night.

2. Twins 3B Miguel Sano has four multi-hit efforts and 10 RBIs in his last seven games.

3. Royals 2B-OF Whit Merrifield pushed his major league-leading hits total to 203 with a pair Friday night.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, Royals 5