TWINS AT KANSAS CITY THREE-GAME SERIES AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM

Friday, 7:15 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Ervin Santana (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Yordano Ventura (13-8, 4.08 in 2015)

Saturday, 6:15 p.m. FSN Plus, 96.3-FM

LHP Tommy Milone (9-5, 3.92 in 2015) vs. RHP Ian Kennedy (9-15, 4.28 in 2015)

Sunday, 1:15 p.m. FSN, 96.3-FM

RHP Ricky Nolasco (5-2, 6.75 in 2015) vs. RHP Edinson Volquez (1-0, 0.00)

ROYALS UPDATE

The 2015 World Series champs opened the season with a 4-3 victory over the Mets on Sunday, but have played only once (a 2-0 loss Tuesday) since then because of three scheduled days off, including a rare two in a row. … Kansas City hit the second-fewest home runs in the AL last season with 139, and are one of two teams without a homer this season. … Through two games, they are batting only .197 (12-for-61) with two extra-base hits. … Kennedy, a nine-year veteran who signed a five-year, $70 million contract over the winter, makes his Royals debut Saturday. His start was delayed from Tuesday because of a hamstring strain suffered near the end of training camp. … OF Jarrod Dyson is on the disabled list because of a right oblique strain. LHP Tim Collins and LHP Jason Vargas are on the 60-day disabled list. … They are only the second AL Central team to win a world championship since the Twins' 1991 title, joining the 2005 White Sox.

TWINS UPDATE

They lost their opening series of the season for the fourth time in five years. … The current Twins roster had 23 total at-bats last season against Kansas City closer Wade Davis — and one hit, a double by Brian Dozier. … Santana, a former Royals pitcher, will make his second start of the season two days early, after pitching only two innings on Opening Day because of rain. Last July, he made his season debut at Kansas City after serving an 80-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. … Nolasco will make only his second start since last May 31 on Sunday. … The Twins went 7-12 against the Royals last season, but 5-5 in Kansas City. They have lost the season series to the Royals for three consecutive seasons, but only once in the previous 11 before that.

PHIL MILLER