THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD

Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 1500-AM

LHP Scott Diamond (11-6, 3.35 ERA) vs. LHP Will Smith (4-7, 5.45)

Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 1500-AM

RHP P.J. Walters (2-3, 6.05) vs. RHP Luke Hochevar (7-13, 5.36)

Thursday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 1500-AM

RHP Liam Hendriks (0-7, 6.20) vs. RHP Luis Mendoza (7-9, 4.63)

TWINS UPDATE

One reason the Twins went to a six-man rotation for September was to give Scott Diamond extra rest between starts, as he looks to put the finishing touches on a strong season. Including the six starts he made for Class AAA Rochester, Diamond is 15-7 with a 3.20 ERA in 28 starts with 103 strikeouts and 30 walks in 177 innings pitched. He is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against the Royals.

ROYALS UPDATE

The Royals are 10-5 against the first-place White Sox, but they are 8-23 against the Twins, Seattle and Toronto -- three American League teams that have spent much of the season in last place. That includes a 5-10 record against the Twins, who went 2-1 in Kansas City over Labor Day weekend. ... This will be Smith's first start since he held the Twins to three runs over six innings in a 3-1 loss on Sept. 1 in the first game of a doubleheader.

JOE CHRISTENSEN