Minnesota @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2011 ) Minnesota 0, Kansas City 4
THE STORY: Despite having nothing for which to play, the Kansas City Royals are showing signs of life with seven wins in 12 games this month. The Royals notched their third consecutive win Tuesday and will go for an abbreviated two-game sweep of the visiting Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon. Minnesota has lost four straight contests and sits three games back of Kansas City in the battle for last place in the American League Central.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSNO, FSKC
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Liam Hendriks (0-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. Royals LH Bruce Chen (10-7, 4.30 ERA).
Hendriks acquitted himself well in his major league debut against the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 6, allowing three runs on four hits in seven innings of a 3-0 loss. Uncharacteristically, the 22-year-old Australian issued three walks – as many as he allowed in 49 1/3 innings at Triple-A Rochester.
Hochevar, who is the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, makes his 100th career start. He struck out a season-high nine at Seattle on Thursday, but surrendered a pair of homers in a 4-1 loss. He has matched his career high of 23 homers set in 2009, but it has been in 49 more innings. Hochevar defeated the Twins on July 15, yielding one run on three hits in seven innings.
ABOUT THE ROYALS (63-86): With seven home games remaining, Kansas City owns a 35-39 record at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals haven’t won more than 38 games at home since the 2003 season. Alex Gordon, who is the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2005, continued his renaissance with three hits Tuesday night. He is 8-for-19 with six RBIs during a four-game hitting streak and has shed the bust label with 22 homers, 84 RBIs and a .302 batting average. Johnny Giavotella had a pair of hits to end a 1-for-21 drought.
ABOUT THE TWINS (59-88): Minnesota appears to have packed it in after being held to two hits in eight innings by Chen – a pitcher the Twins had owned in his career. It was their fourth consecutive loss and ninth in their last 10 games. Minnesota has been held to one run or fewer 13 times in the last 22 games, including five shutouts. Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel returned to the lineup Tuesday but went 0-for-7 between them. Cuddyer is mired in an 0-for-19 skid.
FINAL PITCH: Royals rookie Mike Moustakas hit his second homer of the year and first in over three months Tuesday night. He had gone 281 at-bats since homering on June 11 in his second major league game. Moustakas clubbed 36 homers at Double-A and Triple-A last year, tying for the most in the minor leagues.