Royals @ Twins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Kansas City Royals (40-70)

@ Minnesota Twins (66-42)

Starting Pitchers:

Sparkman (KC): 3-7; 5.25 ERA

Perez (MIN) 8-4; 4.38 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Kansas City Royals: 3-7

Minnesota Twins: 6-4

Current odds:

Kansas City Royals: (+190)

Minnesota Twins: (-220)

• The Minnesota Twins were on the verge of recording a series sweep before recent trade acquisition Sam Dyson was unable to hold a three-run lead in the ninth inning of their last outing. After tumbling to a 12th-inning loss, the Twins hope to regain their footing on Friday when they begin a 10-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals. Max Kepler continued his torrid power display by increasing his team-leading homer total to 30 with his seventh in 11 outings during Minnesota’s 5-4 setback to Miami on Thursday afternoon. Kepler aims to remain hot versus Kansas City, against which he is 13-for-38 to help the Twins take six of nine encounters against their American League Central rival.

• The reeling Royals surrendered 20 runs in a three-game sweep by Toronto and 48 overall during their seven-game homestand, during which they posted a 1-6 mark. Jorge Soler, who saw his 26-game streak of reaching base come to a halt in Wednesday’s 4-1 setback to the Blue Jays, is just 5-for-31 against Minnesota this season.

• Sparkman allowed eight runs on nine hits — including three homers — for the second time in five outings on Saturday in a 9-1 setback to Cleveland. The 27-year-old recorded a pair of uneven performances against Minnesota this season, as he rebounded from permitting five runs in as many innings in a 5-4 setback on June 15 to yield just one over seven frames in a 4-1 win five days later. Jorge Polanco is 4-for-9 with a homer versus Sparkman, but the hurler has flustered Eddie Rosario (0-for-8, two strikeouts).

• Perez tasted defeat for the first time since a loss to Kansas City on June 16 after allowing three runs in six innings of Saturday’s 5-1 setback at the Chicago White Sox. The 28-year-old Venezuelan has struggled in a pair of starts versus the Royals, following up his five-run effort on June 16 by permitting six more in five frames of a no-decision five days later. Cheslor Cuthbert (5-for-8, homer, four RBIs) and Whit Merrifield (4-for-9) have gotten the better of Perez, but the hurler has kept Alex Gordon (0-for-11, five strikeouts) under wraps.

• Merrifield, who leads Kansas City with a .300 batting average, is 13-for-39 with four extra-base hits (three doubles, homer) against Minnesota this season.

• Twins DH Nelson Cruz is just 5-for-28 with 13 strikeouts against the Royals this season.

• Kansas City C Cam Gallagher belted his second homer of the season Wednesday to improve to 5-for-13 with two runs scored in his last two games.