Twins pitcher Nolasco has had successful career against Royals
Ricky Nolasco has been the Minnesota Twins' busiest starter through 43 games, and enters Monday's game against the Kansa City Royals leading the team in innings-pitched with 49 1/3.
His 4.74 ERA trails Ervin Santana and Tyler Duffey in the starting rotation, but the 33-year-old right-hander has turned in some of his best work when facing the Royals since entering the league in 2006.
Ricky Nolasco, career ERA (minimum 5 GS)
| Team | ERA |
| vs. Pirates | 2.67 |
| vs. Cubs | 2.81 |
| vs. Nationals | 3.65 |
| vs. Phillies | 3.75 |
| vs. Royals | 3.83 |
| vs. Cardinals | 3.84 |
Nolasco has allowed 41 hits and just 18 runs in seven appearances against the Royals.
He'll face another righty in Kansas City's Ian Kennedy, a fact that should mean good things for both offenses.
The Twins and the Royals are among MLB's leaders in run differential when facing right-handed pitchers vs. left-handed pitchers, with both teams performing significantly better against the former.
AL, highest difference in average off RHP vs. LHP
| Team | vs. LHP | vs. RHP | Diff |
| Orioles | .228 | .274 | +.046 |
| Tigers | .236 | .274 | +.038 |
| Twins | .204 | .237 | +.033 |
| Angels | .243 | .261 | +.018 |
| Royals | .243 | .258 | +.015 |
Meanwhile, Joe Mauer's career as a consistent presence at the plate has continued in 2016.
Mauer has racked up at least 140 hits in all but four of his 12 seasons in the majors, and is on pace to do it again in 2016.
It's a figure that puts him in pretty impressive company, and just two seasons off of Kirby Puckett's franchise record of 11 if Mauer can keep up his current pace.
Twins, most seasons with 140+ hits
| Batter | Seasons |
| Kirby Puckett | 11 |
| Rod Carew | 10 |
| Joe Mauer | 8 |
| Tony Oliva | 8 |
| Kent Hrbek | 7 |
Statistics courtesy of STATS, Inc.
