Twins, Royals to clash in critical MLB playoff race series

The Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals are neck and neck as they continue to compete for an MLB playoff spot.

The American League Central Division rivals will square off in a three-game series beginning Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Entering Friday, the Twins (76-64) are a half-game ahead of the Royals (76-65) for second place in the AL Central and a half-game ahead of Kansas City for the second AL Wild Card spot.

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The Royals are five games ahead of the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners for the final wild-card position.

Kansas City has not played well as of late, dropping their past seven of 10 games. Meanwhile, the Twins haven't been much better, going 4-6 in their last 10.

The Twins have the edge on the season series 7-3 and have won the past three of four matchups. The Royals won the last game 4-1 on Aug. 14 at Target Field.

Here are the pitching matchups:

• Friday, Sept. 6 : Twins RHP Zebby Matthews (1-2, 7.48 ERA) vs. Royals LHP Cole Ragans (10-9, 3.46 ERA)
• Saturday, Sept. 7 : Twins RHP Bailey Ober (12-6, 3.95 ERA) vs. Royals RHP Alec Marsh (7-8, 4.70 ERA)
• Sunday, Sept. 8 : Twins RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (5-3, 3.95 ERA) vs. Royals RHP Michael Wacha (11-7, 3.50 ERA)

Matthews, a rookie, is coming off a start to forget, as he surrendered nine runs in two innings of work in a blowout 15-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. In his previous three starts, the most earned runs Matthews had allowed in a single game was two.

On Aug. 13, he earned his first and only MLB win against the Royals.

Related: Twins battered in blowout loss to Blue Jays, 15-0

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Ober has yet to notch a win against Kansas City in nine MLB starts dating back to 2021. He's 0-4 with a 7.71 ERA. This season alone, he's been a pitching machine against Royals hitters, pitching 6.1 innings while allowing 14 earned runs and 18 hits. He's also given up six home runs in the two games he's pitched against the division rival.

Another rookie, Woods Richardson has only faced the Royals once so far in his career, earning a win on May 28. He pitched five innings while giving up three hits, two runs, two walks and striking out four.

The Twins are still dealing with injuries as September rolls on. center fielder Byron Buxton reaggravated a hip injury this week and is set to be reevaluated. Meanwhile, right fielder Max Kepler has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a knee injury and reliever Kody Funderburk remains on the IL with a left oblique strain. Outfielder Manuel Margot was diagnosed with a mild right abductor strain and placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday.

Shortstop Carlos Correa remains out with plantar fasciitis and hasn't played since early July.

The Royals could be getting back outfielder Hunter Renfroe in time for the three-game series this weekend.