Twins take 5-game losing streak into matchup with the Royals

Associated Press

Minnesota Twins (62-79, fourth in the AL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (72-69, second in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Saturday, 7:15 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Joe Ryan (13-7, 3.08 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 174 strikeouts); Royals: Stephen Kolek (4-5, 3.99 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 59 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Twins -123, Royals +103; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins enter the matchup with the Kansas City Royals as losers of five games in a row.

Kansas City has a 39-34 record in home games and a 72-69 record overall. Royals pitchers have a collective 3.64 ERA, which ranks second in the AL.

Minnesota has a 27-43 record in road games and a 62-79 record overall. The Twins have a 30-16 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.

The teams match up Saturday for the 12th time this season. The Royals are ahead 6-5 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bobby Witt Jr. leads the Royals with a .294 batting average, and has 41 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs, 47 walks and 77 RBIs. Adam Frazier is 10 for 32 with a home run and three RBIs over the last 10 games.

Byron Buxton has 18 doubles, six triples and 29 home runs for the Twins. Trevor Larnach is 16 for 37 with two doubles and five RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 5-5, .208 batting average, 3.54 ERA, outscored by three runs

Twins: 3-7, .267 batting average, 6.34 ERA, outscored by 15 runs

INJURIES: Royals: Bobby Witt Jr.: day-to-day (back), Seth Lugo: 15-Day IL (back), Jonathan India: 10-Day IL (wrist), Bailey Falter: 15-Day IL (biceps), Hunter Harvey: 15-Day IL (abductor), Steven Cruz: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Cole Ragans: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Alec Marsh: 60-Day IL (shoulder), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Twins: Ryan Jeffers: day-to-day (head), Alan Roden: 60-Day IL (thumb), Christian Vazquez: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Anthony Misiewicz: 15-Day IL (shoulder), David Festa: 15-Day IL (shoulder)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.