The bottom feeders in the American League Central square off Friday as the Minnesota Twins take on the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium. Minnesota, which owns the worst record in the AL at 38-54, occupies the basement in the division as it trails the Chicago White Sox by 12 games. Kansas City has not performed much better, going 39-52 to sit 10 1/2 games behind Chicago.
The Twins, who have lost nine of their last 12 games overall, are coming off a 2-5 homestand. They haven't fared well on the road of late, either, dropping four of their last five away from Target Field. But they are facing a team in the Royals which has the worst home record in baseball at 16-28. Kansas City is 2-5 on its 10-game homestand and has lost 10 of 13 overall.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSNO (Minnesota), FSKC (Kansas City)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Nick Blackburn (4-5, 8.10 ERA) vs. Royals RH Luke Hochevar (6-8, 5.16)
Blackburn returns to the Twins' rotation after spending the last two weeks with Triple-A Rochester. The 30-year-old last started for Minnesota on July 3, when he escaped with a no-decision after surrendering six runs over four innings at Detroit. Blackburn, who is 2-2 with an 8.36 ERA in six road outings this season, allowed two runs over five frames in a victory at Kansas City on June 6.
Hochevar has won three of his last four decisions, yielding a total of two runs over 21 2/3 innings in the victories. The lone loss came at Minnesota on June 30, when the 28-year-old surrendered five runs in six frames. Hochevar, who is 4-4 in 13 career games against the Twins, has gone 1-4 with a 6.44 ERA in eight home starts this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kansas City signed C Jason Kendall to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. The 38-year-old hit .256 with 37 RBIs for the Royals in 2010 before missing all of last season with a right shoulder injury.
2. Minnesota's Ryan Doumit made his first career start in left field Thursday.
3. The Twins have won every season series with the Royals since 2004.