twins vs. kansas city series preview

FOUR-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD

Thursday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Samuel Deduno (3-2, 3.72 ERA) vs. RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-5, 4.20)

Friday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP P.J. Walters (2-3, 4.88) vs. RHP Wade Davis (4-5, 4.96)

Saturday, 3:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Kyle Gibson (0-0, -.--) vs. RHP James Shields (2-6, 2.92)

Sunday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Kevin Correia (6-5, 3.82) vs. RHP Ervin Santana (5-5, 2.74)

TWINS UPDATE

The Twins lost two games in Miami this week to finish the five-game road trip with a 1-4 record. It doesn't get any easier as they play the Royals, who have won five of the six meetings between the teams this season. The first two meetings took place at Kauffman Stadium. … Deduno has the one win against the Royals this season, throwing six shutout innings in a 3-0 victory on June 4. … Josh Willingham is batting .350 against the Royals this season with one homer and three RBI. … One stat that is unexplainable: The Twins are 0-10 on Fridays.

ROYALS UPDATE

The Royals this week called up lefthander Will Smith from Class AAA Omaha, who has been converted into a reliever. They Royals feel the quality of his pitches have improved. … Aaron Crow, one of the Royals' key setup men, was a teammate of Gibson at the University of Missouri. … Billy Butler (10-for-20), Salvador Perez (.409) and Lorenzo Cain (.381) have had their way with Twins pitching this season. … Guthrie is 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA in two starts against the Twins this season. … The Royals entered Wednesday leading the American League with a 3.52 team ERA.

La VELLE E. NEAL III