MLB Game Preview: Kansas City Royals (57-59) vs. Minnesota Twins (55-60)

Game Context

The Royals and Twins meet for the ninth time this season, with the series tied 4–4. Minnesota took Friday’s opener 9–4 behind a barrage of early offense and a solid outing from Joe Ryan. Both teams are hovering around .500 and looking to climb back into the AL Wild Card conversation.

Pitching Matchup

Team	Starting Pitcher	2025 Stats
Royals	Noah Cameron (LHP)	5–5, 2.68 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 72 K
Twins	Bailey Ober (RHP)	4–6, 5.38 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 78 K

Cameron has been a bright spot in Kansas City’s rotation, while Ober has struggled with consistency and run prevention. The Royals may have the edge on the mound tonight.

Key Players to Watch

Kansas City Royals

• Bobby Witt Jr.: .287 AVG, 37 doubles, 17 HR — elite speed/power combo.
• Maikel Garcia: .308 AVG over last 10 games with 3 doubles and 5 RBI.
• Kyle Isbel: Batting .333 since the All-Star break — quietly productive.

Minnesota Twins

• Trevor Larnach: 15 HR, .249 AVG — day-to-day with side soreness.
• Ryan Jeffers: .355 over last 21 games, 9-game hitting streak.
• Kody Clemens: Homered Friday, heating up with 4 HR in last 10 games.

Team Trends & Stats

Category	Royals	Twins
Last 10 Games	5–5 (.254 BA, 5.32 ERA)	5–5 (.251 BA, 5.21 ERA)
Road/Home Record	29–31 (Away)	31–24 (Home)
Record When 2+ HR	18–5	22–7
Season Series	Tied 4–4	Tied 4–4

Injury Report

Kansas City Royals:

• Steven Cruz (shoulder), Kris Bubic (rotator cuff), Cole Ragans (rotator cuff), Mark Canha (elbow), Michael Massey (ankle), Alec Marsh (shoulder), James McArthur (elbow) — all sidelined.

Minnesota Twins:

• Christian Vázquez (shoulder), Trevor Larnach (side), Byron Buxton (rib), Pablo López (shoulder), Simeon Woods Richardson (illness), David Festa (shoulder), Anthony Misiewicz (shoulder) — all on IL.

Final Take

Kansas City’s pitching advantage and balanced lineup give them a strong chance to even the series. The Twins have power but remain inconsistent, especially with injuries piling up. Expect a tight contest with late-inning drama.