Minnesota takes 4-game skid into matchup with Kansas City

Updated Jun. 5, 2021 3:20 a.m. ET

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Minnesota Twins (22-35, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Kansas City Royals (29-26, third in the AL Central)

Kansas City, Missouri; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Jose Berrios (5-2, 3.36 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 69 strikeouts) Royals: Mike Minor (4-2, 4.65 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 68 strikeouts)

LINE: Royals +102, Twins -119; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota enters the game as losers of their last four games.

The Royals are 15-18 against teams from the AL Central. The Kansas City offense has compiled a .244 batting average as a team this season, good for seventh in the MLB. Andrew Benintendi leads the team with an average of .296.

The Twins are 10-15 in division play. Minnesota has hit 80 home runs this season, fourth in the American League. Miguel Sano leads the team with 10, averaging one every 14 at-bats.

The Royals won the last meeting 14-5. Brad Keller earned his sixth victory and Whit Merrifield went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs for Kansas City. Matt Shoemaker registered his seventh loss for Minnesota.

TOP PERFORMERS: Salvador Perez leads the Royals with 14 home runs and has 40 RBIs.

Sano leads the Twins with 10 home runs and is batting .157.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 7-3, .278 batting average, 3.67 ERA, outscored opponents by 21 runs

Twins: 4-6, .236 batting average, 5.69 ERA, outscored by 18 runs

INJURIES: Royals: Daniel Tillo: (undisclosed), Josh Staumont: (knee), Jesse Hahn: (shoulder), Danny Duffy: (forearm), Adalberto Mondesi: (hamstring).

Twins: Caleb Thielbar: (groin), Devin Smeltzer: (elbow), Kenta Maeda: (groin), Edwar Colina: (right elbow), Rob Refsnyder: (concussion), Max Kepler: (hamstring), Jake Cave: (back), Byron Buxton: (hip), Luis Arraez: (shoulder), Mitch Garver: (groin).

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

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Mitch Garver

Matt Shoemaker

Caleb Thielbar

Miguel Sanó

Jesse Hahn

Danny Duffy

Salvador Perez

José Berríos

Whit Merrifield

Daniel Tillo

Josh Staumont

Brad Keller

Kenta Maeda

Edwar Colina

Devin Smeltzer

Rob Refsnyder

Jake Cave

Byron Buxton

Max Kepler

Luis Arraez

Kansas City Royals

Minnesota Twins