Twins at Royals
The American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins hope to right the ship after losing three of their last four contests when they visit the last-place Kansas City Royals on Thursday for the opener of their four-game series. The Twins outlasted Boston 4-3 in 17 innings on Tuesday but dropped a 9-4 decision to Boston the following night to wrap up a 5-4 homestand that saw them win two of three against the Royals.
Willians Astudillo went 3-for-4 with a solo homer after being recalled from the minors prior to the game and Max Kepler also went deep for Minnesota in Wednesday's loss while Eddie Rosario recorded two more hits after going 4-for-8 in the previous day's marathon. Jake Odorizzi looks to continue his superb season when he takes the mound for the Twins in the series opener opposite Glenn Sparkman in a rematch of Friday’s contest, which was won by Minnesota. Kansas City saw its three-game winning streak come to an end Wednesday as it suffered an 8-2 loss at Seattle without shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (44 RBIs, major league-best 27 stolen bases), who is considered day-to-day with tightness in his right groin. Whit Merrifield's eight-game hitting streak was halted on Wednesday, but he went 6-for-13 with a homer, two runs and two RBIs in last week's series against the Twins.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (10-2, 2.24 ERA) vs. Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (1-3, 4.01)
Odorizzi extended his winning streak to 10 games despite allowing four runs and seven hits (two homers) in six innings against the Royals last week. The 29-year-old native of Illinois, who has not lost since April 10, had given up a total of four runs while registering 55 strikeouts over 47 2/3 innings in his previous eight outings. Merrifield is 7-for-13 with three homers versus Odorizzi, who has posted a 4.56 ERA in 10 career appearances against Kansas City.
Sparkman has lost each of his last two starts, including Saturday's turn against the Twins in which he permitted five runs - four earned - and five hits over five innings. The 27-year-old Texan recorded his only victory of the season on May 1, when he held Tampa Bay to three hits in seven scoreless frames. Kepler is 2-for-4 with a homer against Sparkman, who has posted a 2.40 ERA over 30 innings at home this year as opposed to a 7.82 mark in 12 2/3 frames on the road.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals OF Jorge Bonifacio has gone 7-for-20 with three RBIs since returning from an 80-game suspension for PED use.
2. The Twins placed OF-INF Marwin Gonzalez (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list and RHP Blake Parker on the Family Medical Emergency list.
3. Kansas City OF Jorge Soler has gone deep three times in his last five contests to become the first member of the team to reach 20 homers.