AL Central cellar-dwelling Royals vie to take Twins to task again

The Kansas City Royals are last in the American League Central, but they've had their way with the playoff-contending Minnesota Twins this season.

Having already secured a winning series against the Twins, the Royals try to record a sweep of this three-game home set against their division foe Thursday night.

It's been a disappointing season for Kansas City, filled with injuries to key performers. However, the Royals are 8-4 this season versus Minnesota, which remains a serious contender for both the division title and an AL wild-card spot.

After winning 8-2 in Tuesday's series opener, the Royals got eight innings of one-run, nine-strikeout ball from Noah Cameron and a tiebreaking homer by Michael Massey in the seventh for a 2-1 victory. Kansas City has won five straight at home, where it is 9-1 since July 5.

Massey, meanwhile, is batting .406 with that homer and six RBIs during Kansas City's last 10 games at home

"I feel like we still have a great group of guys in (the clubhouse) that know how to compete and know how to play baseball at a high level," Thursday's scheduled starter Michael Wacha told the Royals' official website.

Wacha (5-8, 3.51 ERA) has not won a decision since June 22, but he's posted a 1.89 ERA over his last three starts. Among the major-league leaders with 15 quality starts, the right-hander allowed three runs (one earned) and struck out seven without a walk over six innings of a 3-1 loss at Colorado on Friday.

"Extremely excited to still be (in Kansas City) with these guys," Wacha added, referring to the recent trade deadline.

"We feel like this is where we need to be."

Wacha, 35, is 6-2 with a 3.57 ERA in 11 career starts against the Twins. However, one of his roughest outings of 2026 came June 5, when he yielded five runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings of the Royals' 5-3 loss at Minnesota.

The Twins have dropped four straight and are 1-4 on a nine-game road trip. They managed just two hits Wednesday, and have scored three or fewer runs 11 times in 18 games since the All-Star break.

"We've got to find a way to create a little more offense. ... Create more opportunities," Twins manager Derek Shelton said.

"Kansas City has played us really tough, and we've got to find a way to win a game (Thursday)."

Despite Minnesota's recent offensive issues, infielder Royce Lewis is batting .378 during a 10-game hitting streak. He's also hitting .333 in 10 games versus Kansas City this season but is 0-for-7 with three strikeouts all-time against Wacha.

The Twins have won the last three starts made by Bailey Ober (7-3, 4.45), who is slated to take the ball in this contest after going 1-0 with a 3.98 ERA in four starts in July.

The right-hander's lone quality start last month came July 30 versus Kansas City, when he allowed three runs -- two earned, including a two-run homer to Jac Caglianone, over six innings of Minnesota's comeback 4-3 victory.

While Massey is 2-for-17 with a homer versus Ober, star teammate Bobby Witt Jr.'s 12-for-28 with five extra-base hits against him.

--Field Level Media