FOUR-GAME SERIES AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM

Friday, 7:15 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: RHP Ervin Santana (10-4, 2.80 ERA) vs. LHP Jason Vargas (11-3, 2.29)

Saturday (2), 1:15 and 7:35 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: Game 1: RHP Jose Berrios (7-2, 2.98) vs. RHP Jason Hammel (4-6, 4.75); Game 2: TBA vs. TBA

Sunday, 1:15 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: LHP Hector Santiago (4-7, 5.37) vs. LHP Matt Strahm (2-5, 5.61)

TWINS UPDATE

Despite losing three of four at Boston, the Twins are 24-12 on the road, the second-fewest losses in the majors. They are 7-4 in their past 11 road games, and 4-3 on this road trip. … Saturday's doubleheader includes a night game to make up the April 29 rainout. The entire four-game series will be played in roughly 45 hours. … They are 7-1 against the Royals this year and 2-0 in Kansas City. They have not won the season series with Kansas City since 2012. … Neither team has announced its second starting pitcher Saturday, nor confirmed which game their scheduled starter will pitch. … Santana, who spent 2013 with Kansas City, is 6-9 with a 4.45 ERA in 22 career starts against the Royals. … Brandon Kintzler is 6-for-6 in save opportunities vs. Kansas City.

ROYALS UPDATE

An 11-2 stretch this month carried the Royals to within two games of first place in the AL Central, but they have lost three of four to fall to 3½ back. … They are 21-18 at home and have won six of their past nine there. … They are 14-0 in June when scoring four or more runs. … Vargas, trying to become the American League's first 12-game winner, has won six consecutive starts and has given up more than three earned runs only once in his 15 starts this season. … They are missing LHP Danny Duffy (oblique), 3B Cheslor Cuthbert (wrist), and OF Paulo Orlando (shin). Kansas City has recalled OF Jorge Soler, who batted .159 in 20 games before being demoted to Class AAA Omaha. … The Royals are last in the AL in scoring with only 306 runs, but they have given up the fifth-fewest runs (344). … Three-time All-Star LF Alex Gordon is batting only .195, with a .576 OPS.

PHIL MILLER