{"id":28080,"date":"2026-08-05T04:00:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T23:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=28080"},"modified":"2026-08-05T04:00:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T23:00:26","slug":"twins-series-preview-new-and-improved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=28080","title":{"rendered":"Twins series preview: New and improved?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The Twins are under .500, but just one game out of a playoff spot (talk about missed opportunities for the Royals if they were halfway decent!) That was enough for them to be buyers at the trade deadline. They weren&#8217;t super aggressive, but they did add a starting pitcher with a good track record who has struggled this year in <a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/players\/11428\/\" rel=\"\">Dean Kremer<\/a>, and bolstered their bullpen with the additions of <a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/players\/10794\/\" rel=\"\">A.J. Minter<\/a> and <a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/players\/9896\/\" rel=\"\">Jeff Hoffman<\/a>. The Royals will be facing an improved pitching staff than the one that took two out of three from them in Minnesota last week.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"content-blockquote\">\n<div>\n<p><strong><a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/teams\/minnesota\/\" rel=\"\">Minnesota Twins<\/a><\/strong><strong> (56-57) vs. <\/strong><strong><a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/teams\/kansas-city\/\" rel=\"\">Kansas City Royals<\/a><\/strong><strong> (46-67) <\/strong>at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO<\/p>\n<p>Twins: 4.71 runs scored\/game (9th in MLB), 3.93 runs allowed\/game (4th)<\/p>\n<p>Royals: 4.13 runs scored\/game (25th), 5.10 runs allowed\/game (27th)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Twins are without <a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/players\/9590\/\" rel=\"\">Byron Buxton<\/a>, who went back on the Injured List with a hip injury. <a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/players\/63023\/\" rel=\"\">Luke Keaschall<\/a> will move over to centerfield to take his place.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"content-figure\">\n<div class=\"content-image\"><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"960\" height=\"442\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/9b1d1e932ea9dc4f9eb7c0cc747ba48d79ff35edbf95ed9f1e919227f9fa66f0\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fsb_nation_articles_115%2Fa700de0e84e5fc0313725913e5b863a2\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"lightbox-btn\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;subsec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\"><span class=\"lightbox-expand\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"lightbox-overlay\" aria-modal=\"true\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"fig-caption\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/players\/11847\/\" rel=\"\">Joe Ryan<\/a> was thought to be a trade candidate, but the Twins insisted they would be buyers, putting those rumors to rest. Instead, he will start against the Royals, a team he has historically dominated \u2013 he is 8-3 with a 2.75 ERA in 14 career starts. <a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/players\/11629\/\" rel=\"\">Randy Dobnak<\/a> will face his former team for the second time in a week \u2013 he tossed seven shutout innings against them in his last start. Kremer will make his first start in a Twins uniform on Wednesday. He had a 4.19 ERA and was worth 2.24 rWAR last year with <a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/teams\/baltimore\/\" rel=\"\">Baltimore<\/a>, but missed the first three months of this season with a quad injury. <a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/players\/9329\/\" rel=\"\">Michael Wacha<\/a> was not dealt at the trade deadline. He has given up just four runs in 19 innings over his last three starts.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"content-figure\">\n<div class=\"content-image\"><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"960\" height=\"252\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/b90a354b464d8520e5235b0c9bd0d3ad2848914de301fe436e7cb1a3aea25a83\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fsb_nation_articles_115%2F9a00e1f3a81ea79e02c79d7d6de68bd4\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"lightbox-btn\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;subsec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\"><span class=\"lightbox-expand\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"lightbox-overlay\" aria-modal=\"true\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"fig-caption\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Jeff Hoffman will likely take over closing duties after being acquired from <a data-ylk=\"\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/mlb\/teams\/toronto\/\" rel=\"\">Toronto<\/a>. He has mostly been a setup man this year after losing his closer&#8217;s role, but he had 33 saves for the pennant-winning Blue Jays last year.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"content-figure\">\n<div class=\"content-image\"><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"960\" height=\"368\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/1bceacf5a083d2eafa1d76fe92d70903730d6fa58271ac220039e6b1b13b85ba\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fsb_nation_articles_115%2Fd27ddab3ab9f6b3132aafd9ef0a6894d\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"lightbox-btn\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;subsec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;ySubModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\"><span class=\"lightbox-expand\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Image Lightbox\" class=\"lightbox-overlay\" aria-modal=\"true\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"fig-caption\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>The Royals have won six of ten from the Twins this year. But they looked lifeless at times on the most recent road trip, and continue to be decimated by injuries. Minnesota is still trying to make a push for the postseason, while the Royals are playing out the string, making this a matchup between two teams headed in very different directions.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p><a data-ylk=\"slk:How will the Royals fare this series against the Twins? | Royals Review;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;How will the Royals fare this series against the Twins? | Royals Review&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.royalsreview.com\/post\/rlOQv2HAZrsU\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">How will the Royals fare this series against the Twins? | Royals Review<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a data-ylk=\"slk:How will the Royals fare this series against the Twins? | Royals Review;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;How will the Royals fare this series against the Twins? | Royals Review&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.royalsreview.com\/post\/rlOQv2HAZrsU\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">How will the Royals fare this series against the Twins? | Royals Review<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Twins are under .500, but just one game out of a playoff spot (talk about missed opportunities for the Royals if they were halfway decent!) That was enough for them to be buyers at the trade deadline. They weren&#8217;t super aggressive, but they did add a starting pitcher with a good track record who&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/bd7ecf496e79766a1ddb727bcb323c34f9ab7c036ffe22efae7adcdc5e965f20\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w1200%3Bquality_80%3Bformat_webp\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fsb_nation_articles_115%2F38b8959bcffde1bb9ba606a1e8ad6f3d","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}