Minnesota @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2012 ) Minnesota 3, Kansas City 7

Jeremy Guthrie hopes a change in scenery will help him salvage what has been a poor 2012 campaign. The 33-year-old Guthrie takes the mound for the Kansas City Royals against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Sunday. He was acquired from the Colorado Rockies for struggling left-hander Jonathan Sanchez. Guthrie, who spent the previous five seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, limped to a 3-9 mark with a 6.35 ERA for Colorado.

The Royals remained ahead of Minnesota in the American League Central with Saturday’s victory. Lorenzo Cain had three hits and three RBIs and leadoff hitter Alex Gordon continued his torrid play with three hits. Gordon has 34 multi-hit performances this season, including six of the past nine games. Minnesota has the worst record in the AL and won’t be climbing out of the basement in this series now that it is 1 1/2 games behind the Royals. First baseman/designated hitter Justin Morneau will miss his second straight game after leaving the team for the birth of his son on Saturday.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), Fox Sports Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Samuel Deduno (0-0, 5.59 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (3-9, 6.35)

Deduno is making his third career start and didn’t make it out of the sixth in either of his first two. He went 5 1/3 innings against Texas on July 7 and 4 1/3 innings against Baltimore on Tuesday. He allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits while taking a no-decision against the Orioles.

Guthrie has always fared well against Kansas City, compiling a 4-1 record and 2.70 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts). He lost his last six decisions for Colorado after beating the Houston Astros on May 31. Guthrie allowed 21 homers in just 90 2/3 innings for the Rockies.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minnesota OF Josh Willingham is batting .438 (14-for-32) during a nine-game hitting streak.

2. Royals SS Alcides Escobar is 5-for-10 in the series to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He has a .366 average (15-for-41) during the spurt.

3. Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe (thumb) hopes to play after missing Saturday’s game. Plouffe is second on the squad with 19 homers.