Twins Aim to Rebound Against Royals After Disappointing Loss

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Minnesota Twins are set to face off against the Kansas City Royals in a four-game series starting Monday night at Kauffman Stadium. The Twins are looking to recover from a disappointing series loss to the Houston Astros, where they squandered a six-run lead before ultimately falling in extra innings.

The Twins, now sitting at 4-5, find themselves in a familiar spot at Kauffman Stadium, where they were swept last September, resulting in their elimination from playoff contention. This season, they aim to reverse their fortunes against a Royals team that also has struggled early on.

Last Sunday, the Twins showcased an impressive offensive performance, with leadoff hitter Matt Wallner going 4-for-5 and scoring twice. However, despite contributions from key players like Carlos Correa and Harrison Bader, the team ultimately lost the game 9-7 against the Astros.

“We need to take the momentum from our performance at the plate and translate it into a win,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “It’s clear that our offense can produce, but we need better outings from our pitching staff.”

The starting rotation has been a significant concern for the Twins, as they currently hold the worst earned run average (ERA) in the league at 6.98. In hopes of improving their pitching woes, the Twins are projected to send Simeon Woods Richardson, Pablo López, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober to the mound during the series against the Royals.

“We know we can hit. Now, we need our pitchers to step up and own their responsibilities on the mound,” Baldelli added.

Attending the games has been a mixed experience for fans so far this season. Attendance numbers have dipped, with only 14,638 fans showing up for Sunday’s contest, a stark contrast to the home opener, which attracted 36,783 fans. The poor attendance has raised concerns about fan engagement as the team aims to build on its performance moving forward.

“We want to give our fans something to cheer about again,” said Wallner. “If we can string together some wins, I believe the fans will start to come back.”

For the Royals, who sit at 4-5, the matchup is a vital opportunity to gain ground against a division rival. Michael Lorenzen will take the mound for the Royals, with hopes of stalling the Twins’ offensive momentum.

As the two teams clash for the first time this season, all eyes will be on the performances of their respective lineups. The Royals are poised to capitalize on any pitching missteps by the Twins as they aim for a strong start in their 2025 campaign.