Twins-Kansas City series preview
June 3, 2021 at 3:47AM
All games on FSN, 830-AM
Thursday, 7:10 p.m.: LHP J.A. Happ (3-2, 5.24 ERA) vs. LHP Kris Bubic (1-0, 1.52)
Friday, 7:10 p.m.: RHP Matt Shoemaker (2-6, 5.90) vs. RHP Brad Keller (5-4, 5.68)
Saturday, 3:10 p.m.: RHP Jose Berrios (5-2, 3.36) vs. LHP Mike Minor (4-2, 4.65)
Sunday, 1:10 p.m.: RHP Michael Pineda (3-3, 3.40) vs. RHP Brady Singer (3-4, 5.06)
Twins update
The Twins lost two of three to Kansas City last weekend at Target Field. Happ beat the Royals 6-5 on Saturday, giving up only three hits in five innings. … They will be without five Opening Day starters — CF Byron Buxton (hip), RF Max Kepler (hamstring), C Mitch Garver (groin), LF Luis Arraez (shoulder) and RHP Kenta Maeda (groin). … Entering Wednesday night's game, OF Alex Kirilloff was hitting .500 (17-for-34) with runners on base and .455 (10-for-22) with runners in scoring position; both led the majors. … Before Wednesday, the Twins bullpen had a combined 4.69 ERA but had a more respectable ERA of 3.00 in the past 15 games.
Royals update
Kansas City has won 11 of 17 after an 11-game losing streak to sneak back above .500 (27-26). Last season, the Royals went 26-34. … 2B Whit Merrifield leads MLB with 16 stolen bases. He has played in 360 consecutive games. … The Royals bullpen has a 1.80 ERA (13 ER in 65 innings) over the past 19 games. … LF Andrew Benintendi hit the team's first grand slam of 2021 in Tuesday's victory over Pittsburgh. C Salvador Perez homered twice in that game and has an RBI in five consecutive games. … RF Jorge Soler (groin) and SS Adalberto Mondesi (hamstring) sat out Tuesday. … LHP Danny Duffy (arm) and RHP Josh Staumont (knee) are on the IL.
Chris Miller
about the writer
Neal: La Velle Neal, Pedro Martínez, and a look back at a controversial American League MVP vote
Twenty-five years ago, Martínez finished second in AL MVP balloting — because La Velle didn't vote for the Red Sox ace.
