TWINS VS. KANSAS CITY SERIES PREVIEW
Diving right into the division
THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD
Monday, 3:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: RHP Ervin Santana (7-11, 3.38 in 2016) vs. LHP Danny Duffy (12-3, 3.51)
Wednesday, 12:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: LHP Hector Santiago (3-6, 5.58) vs. RHP Ian Kennedy (11-11, 3.68)
Thursday, 12:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: RHP Kyle Gibson (6-11, 5.07) vs. RHP Jason Hammel (15-10, 3.83)
TWINS UPDATE
Since their last Opening Day victory in 2008, the Twins have been outscored 45-16 in openers. They are 2-5 in Target Field openers, their last victory coming in 2011. … They were 4-15 against the Royals in 2016, but 3-6 at home. … The roster includes five new players: pitchers Craig Breslow, Matt Belisleand Justin Haley, and catchers Jason Castro and Chris Gimenez. There are also three new coaches in James Rowson, Jeff Smith and Jeff Pickler.
KANSAS CITY UPDATE
The Royals went 81-81 in 2016, missing the playoffs a year after winning the World Series. … They added three players from the Cubs: Hammel, LHP Travis Wood and OF Jorge Soler. Acquired for closer Wade Davis, Soler (strained oblique) is on the disabled list. … It's the fourth time these teams have played to open a season and the first since 2002, an 8-6 Twins victory after they survived an offseason of contraction rumors. PHIL MILLER
