The Minnesota Twins (76-65, 64-77 RL, 71-65-4 O/U) face off against the Kansas City Royals (77-65, 78-64 RL, 65-73-4 O/U) in the final game of their three-game divisional series on Sunday afternoon. The Twins are set to start Simeon Woods-Richardson, while the Royals will send Michael Wacha to the mound. Currently, the Twins lead the season series with a record of 7-4 against the Royals.
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Twins on the Wildcard Chase
Simeon Woods-Richardson takes the mound in the Sunday matchup. Although he faced challenges in his last appearance, allowing three runs in 3.2 innings against the Rays, he managed to secure a no-decision in a game that the Twins ultimately won. This promising rookie boasts a 3.95 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, with a 5-3 record over 120.2 innings pitched. In his previous encounter with the Royals, he held them to just two runs over five innings, earning the victory.
The Twins are currently in a competitive position, vying for both the divisional crown and a wildcard spot. They trail the Guardians by five games and occupy the last wildcard position. Recently, the team has faced some struggles, losing three of their last four series, though they managed to secure a series victory against the Blue Jays last weekend. The Twins maintain a record slightly above .500 while on the road.
Carlos Santana continues to be a significant contributor to the Twins’ offense, racking up four RBIs and boasting an .804 OPS this month. The veteran slugger has hit 20 home runs and driven in 60 runs, with a solid .747 OPS overall. While he has only one RBI against the Royals this season, he has produced a commendable .734 OPS in matchups against them.
On the season, the Twins average 4.72 runs per game, which places them 11th in the league, while their pitching staff has an ERA of 4.19, ranking them 20th overall.
Royals Struggling for Consistency
Michael Wacha will take the ball for the Royals on Sunday. In his last outing, he allowed two runs over five innings against the Guardians but ended up taking the loss. Wacha is enjoying a strong season, with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, along with an 11-7 record in 144 innings pitched. He has not faced the Twins this year but has a career ERA of 3.67 against them, with a 4-1 record over 34.1 innings.
The Royals find themselves 4.5 games behind the Guardians in the standings but are still in contention for a wildcard spot. After a disappointing stretch that saw them drop six consecutive games, they managed to regroup with a win in the series opener against the Twins. At home, they hold a solid record, sitting 13 games above .500.
Bobby Witt Jr. has been a standout performer for Kansas City, amassing 20 RBIs and a 1.05 OPS in August, and he currently maintains a .778 OPS this month. The young shortstop has tallied 30 home runs and 97 RBIs, boasting an impressive .998 OPS overall. His performance against the Twins has been particularly noteworthy, with a dazzling 1.1 OPS in their matchups. Meanwhile, Hunter Renfroe is on the injured list, but Paul DeJong has stepped up since joining the team, contributing 24 home runs and 56 RBIs, along with a .732 OPS. This season, DeJong has three RBIs and a .554 OPS against Minnesota.
As a team, the Royals average 4.75 runs per game, ranking them ninth in the league, and their pitching staff has a 3.91 ERA, which puts them at 11th overall.
Strategic Predictions: Twins vs. Royals
The Minnesota Twins have shown resilience against the Royals this season, leading the series 7-4. On the other hand, the Kansas City Royals have struggled recently, losing six of their last eight games.
Moreover, Twins pitcher Simeon Woods-Richardson has delivered solid performances, allowing two or fewer runs in three of his last five starts and holding a 4-2 record on the road. The Twins have secured victories in three of his last four away games. In contrast, Royals pitcher Michael Wacha has given up nine runs in his last 17 innings, contributing to the team’s losses in his last two starts.
