Series Preview: Twins continue Wild Card hunt against Royals

Somehow, someway, the Twins are still in possession of the second wild card spot. I say “somehow” because there are literally SIX different teams all within 3.5 games of taking over the second wild card spot. The Angels are only 0.5 games back.

One of the other five teams in striking distance is the Royals, who the Twins start a four-game series against tonight. The Royals are currently 2.5 games back of the Twins, meaning—once again—this is a huge, large, biggiest series. Heck, by Sunday night the Royals could be in the position the Twins are in. Or, like, tied with three other teams. Gah!!! I’m not used to watching “fun” September baseball like this.

If it feels like the Twins just played the Royals it’s because they did. Last weekend. The Twins lost twice.

But that game they did win? They won 17-0. Remember that? Take a moment and savor it.

Kyle Gibson was on the mound for that whopper of a win, and he’s on the mound again tonight for the Twins in Kansas City. Hopefully the Twins can score 17 runs again. There’s a good chance for that, since they are facing Sam Gaviglio, whom the Royals just claimed him off waivers from the pitching-starved Mariners. That says a lot. Also, when the Twins faced Gaviglio earlier this year, Eduardo Escobar, Byron Buxton, and Miguel Sano all homered off him.

Friday night features a match up between Ian Kennedy and Ervin Santana. It’s literally the same match-up that was featured last Sunday at Target Field. The one where Santana gave up four earned runs, including a two-run dinger to Melky Cabrera. Kennedy also gave up a two-run homer to Eduardo Escobar, but the Royals did end up winning that one.

On Saturday, the Twins take on something called a Jakob Junis. He actually started one game of the doubleheader against the Twins way back on May 21st, and gave up two runs over 4.1 innings. Joe Mauer hit a double off him, but the Twins ended up losing that game. Junis will face Jose Berrios, who gave up five runs against the Rays in his last start.

Sunday is apparently Star Wars Day at Kauffman Stadium, and they are giving away these:

SICK.

Also, it should be an entertaining game because Bartolo Colon is pitching! He hasn’t faced the Royals yet this year, though he obviously has some history against them over his career. Alex Gordon is the only current Royal with a home run off Colon, and Melky Cabrera is 5-for-8 with a triple off him. Actually, these numbers look kind of bad. And Bartolo is facing the Royals best starter, Jason Vargas. Hmm... maybe this won’t be such an entertaining game after all.

Maybe the Twins can score 17 runs or something? It’s happened.

Pitching Match-ups

Game 1: Thursday, September 7th, 2017; 7:15 pm CT — Sam Gaviglio RHP vs. Kyle Gibson RHP

Game 2: Friday, September 8th, 2017; 7:15 pm CT — Ian Kennedy RHP vs. Ervin Santana RHP

Game 3: Saturday, September 9th, 2017; 6:15 pm CT — Jakob Junis RHP vs. Jose Berios RHP

Game 4: Sunday, September 10th, 2017; 1:15 pm CT — Bartolo Colon RHP vs. Jason Vargas LHP