THREE-GAME SERIES AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM
Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. • Fox Sports One, 96.3-FM
RHP Ricky Nolasco (5-9, 5.96 ERA) vs. LHP Danny Duffy (8-11, 2.53)
Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Phil Hughes (14-8, 3.65) vs. RHP Yordano Ventura (10-9, 3.40)
Thursday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
LHP Tommy Milone (6-4, 4.08) vs. RHP Jeremy Guthrie (10-10, 4.32)
TWINS UPDATE
Eleven of their next 13 games are against the three teams that occupy first place today in the three AL divisions, and seven are on the road. The challenging schedule begins in Kansas City, where the Twins lost two of three games and scored only seven runs on the last three days of July. ... They are 7-9 against the Royals, and 2-4 in Kauffman Stadium. ... They are 29-35 on the road overall, and have not been swept in a road series since visiting Anaheim in late June. ... Nolasco has only one career start in Kansas City, giving up five runs in 5⅔ innings (7.94), but Hughes is 4-2 in six career starts here, albeit with a 5.67 ERA, and Milone is 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA in two career starts. ... Glen Perkins is 8-for-8 in save opportunities against Kansas City in his career.
ROYALS UPDATE
They lost four in a row immediately after the All-Star Break, but are baseball's hottest team ever since, having gone 24-7 through Sunday to charge into first place by two games over Detroit in the AL Central. They have not lost consecutive games in August. ... They are attempting to qualify for the postseason for the first time since they won the 1985 World Series. ... They are 33-29 at home, after losing Monday night's makeup of a June 9 rainout against the Yankees. ... Former Twin Josh Willingham is batting .324, with two homers, a .410 on-base percentage and a .618 slugging percentage in 11 games since being traded to Kansas City on Aug. 11. ... Closer Greg Holland, who has a save in each of his past 14 appearances, is 40-for-42 in save opportunities this season.
Phil Miller
