The Twins and Royals have seen a lot of each other recently, with some wild results.
In last week’s series between the two American League Central rivals at Target Field, Minnesota earned a pair of walk-off victories with ninth-inning comebacks, including Kody Clemens’ ultimate grand slam in the series finale. Thursday’s 7:40 p.m. contest on ESPN will be the last Twins-Royals clash of the season — a big game for a Minnesota team in the crowded mix for an AL postseason berth.
All three appeared in Wednesday’s game: Kremer allowed just one run in five innings, and Hoffman pitched a scoreless frame of relief, but Minter allowed the go-ahead home run to K.C.’s Michael Massey in the seventh inning.
The Twins have struggled this year against the last-place Royals, entering Thursday’s game with a 4-8 record against Kansas City, including a 1-4 mark at Kauffman Stadium. Minnesota lost two of three at the K from March 30-April 2 and dropped three of four at Target Field from June 4-7 before Clemens’ grand slam on July 30 gave them a big series win.
On Thursday night, the Royals will start right-hander Michael Wacha (3.51 ERA), who has a 6-2 record in 11 career starts against the Twins. Minnesota’s Josh Bell has faced Wacha 32 times in his career and is 7-for-29 with two home runs against him, while Clemens is 3-for-7 with a double, a homer, and two walks.
Minnesota will start righty Bailey Ober (4.45 ERA), against whom Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has great career numbers: 12-for-28 with two doubles, two triples and a homer. Salvador Perez is 8-for-33 in his career against Ober with a pair of dingers and 11 strikeouts.
