THREE-GAME SERIES AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM
Tuesday 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Kyle Gibson (8-8, 4.19) vs. RHP James Shields (9-5, 3.58)
Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Phil Hughes (10-7, 4.10) vs. LHP Danny Duffy (5-10, 2.47)
Thursday 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Kevin Correia (5-13, 5.06) vs. Yordano Ventura (7-8, 3.63)
TWINS UPDATE
Gibson has been cleared to start Tuesday after missing his last start because of a sore back. He beat the Royals on April 11 but has battled inconsistency. He has not had consecutive quality starts since June 13 and 18. … Hughes took a line drive off his right shin Thursday but has been cleared to make the start. Now he must address his pitching, after posting a 6.31 ERA over his past seven starts — and that includes 7⅓ shutout innings July 8 at Seattle. … Royals batters are 1-for-12 against Jared Burton this season. … Kurt Suzuki is batting .344 with a homer and eight RBI in eight games against Kansas City this season. … Brian Dozier is batting only .206 against the Royals in eight games.
ROYALS UPDATE
Shields is 7-5 with a 4.21 ERA in 17 starts against the Twins in his career, 3-3 in six starts as a Royal. … With his next win, Shields will become the seventh active pitcher with at least eight seasons of double-digit victories, joining Mark Buehrle (14), CC Sabathia (13), A.J. Burnett (9), Dan Haren (9), Jered Weaver (9) and Justin Verlander (8). … Billy Butler has driven in a run in four consecutive games. … Nori Aoki was 2-for-4 with a double on Sunday and is batting .375 over his past six games. … Ventura, a flame-throwing prodigy, lost to the Twins on April 20 at Kauffman Stadium, giving up four runs over four innings.
La Velle E. Neal III
