Berrios tries to stave off Twins' unexpected sweep in Kansas City

First pitch delayed by half-hour after morning showers cool Kauffman Stadium.

August 9, 2020 at 6:12PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There was nothing but sunshine and heat, mid-90s by gametime, in today's Kansas City forecast. But morning showers have cooled things off, and it should be in the mid-80s when the Twins face the Royals today.

The rain also has pushed first pitch back to 1:30 p.m. CDT.

The forecast was for a Twins series victory here, too, given that they are in first place and the Royals in last, but those predictions have been as accurate as the weathermen. Instead, the Twins are trying to stave off a sweep in Kauffman Stadium, something that hasn't happened since July 20-22, 2018.

Jose Berrios will pitch for the Twins, and he'll face K.C. rookie righthander Brady Singer, whose 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings rate is among the top five in MLB.

Jorge Polanco is back in the lineup after taking Saturday off for the Twins, who depart for Milwaukee immediately after today's game.

The Twins made a roster move before the game, optioning Sean Poppen, who threw 66 pitches over three innings Friday and Saturday, to their St. Paul camp. They added eight-year veteran righthander Cory Gearrin, who will be playing for his seventh MLB team.

Here are the lineups for today's game:

TWINS

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Kepler RF

Polanco SS

Cruz DH

Rosario LF

Gonzalez 3B

Sano 1B

Arraez 2B

Buxton CF

Avila C

Berrios RHP

ROYALS

Merrifield CF

Soler RF

Perez DH

Dozier 1B

Mondesi SS

Gordon LF

Franco 3B

Lopez 2B

Gallagher C

Singer RHP

about the writer

about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

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