Royals at Twins, June 6, 1:10 CT

The Royals dropped last night’s contest 5-3 to the Twins after a disastrous, 4-run bottom of the 6th inning. It evens the four-game series at a game apiece, with the Royals taking Thursday’s contest 8-6. On the season, the Royals are 3-2 against the Twins. They are 3-5 on the current 10-game road trip.

Luinder Avila takes the ball this afternoon to try and get the Royals back in the win column. Avila is coming off his best start as a major leaguer on Monday in Cincinnati. Avila went 5 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, and walking 4, but striking out 5. In his career against the Twins, Avila has thrown 2 scoreless innings, striking out 4 batters.

It’ll be a different lineup than usual behind Avila, Salvador Perez, who has been struggling is out of the starting lineup, and Maikel Garcia, who has pinch hit the last two games after pulling his hamstring, will start as the designated hitter today and bat cleanup. Josh Rojas, Thursday’s hero, starts at 3rd today.

As for the Twins, Joe Ryan toes the slab today. Historically, he’s basically Nolan Ryan against the Royals, but the last two times the Royals have hit the ball really well against him. However, both of those games were in Kansas City. In his last start, Ryan gave up 4 runs over 6 innings to the White Sox but struck out 9 batters. Yesterday, Ryan turned 30 years old.

Royce Lewis was recalled this morning from Triple-A after a rough start with the club; however, he’s always mashed against the Royals, and he was mashing in the minors too. Outfielder James Outman, who started in centerfield on Thursday was designated for assignment as the corresponding move. Byron Buxton is not in the starting lineup this afternoon after leaving the game last night in the 3rd inning after crashing into the wall.

Here is the Twins full starting lineup behind Ryan.

First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. CT and the game can be watched on Royals.TV.