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Minnesota Twins: 3 questions for the series vs. the Kansas City Royals

By Chris Schad

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 02: Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals is safe at first base as Ehire Adrianza #13 of the Minnesota Twins fields the ball during the fifth inning of the game on August 2, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 11-9. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 02: Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals is safe at first base as Ehire Adrianza #13 of the Minnesota Twins fields the ball during the fifth inning of the game on August 2, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 11-9. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 04: Second baseman Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals throws past Victor Reyes #22 of the Detroit Tigers to first to complete a double play in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on September 04, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 04: Second baseman Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals throws past Victor Reyes #22 of the Detroit Tigers to first to complete a double play in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on September 04, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Can the Twins keep the Royals’ young core in check?

As with any division opponent, each team will have a group of players that have had success against a divisional rival throughout the season. Although the Royals have come up on the short end against the Twins in a majority of their meetings, the performances of Whit Merrifield and Glenn Sparkman can’t be overlooked.

Merrifield is one of the few credible players on the Royals roster at the moment and has put up the stats to prove it. While the 30-year old’s overall numbers (.305, 16 HR, 74 RBI, 18 SB) are impressive, he has been a Twins killer hitting .308 with a home run and three RBI on the season to go with a pair of stolen bases.

On the mound, Sparkman’s season has been a disaster with a 4-11 record and a 6.02 ERA in 29 games. His results have been particularly bad a starter, as he’s posted a 0-8 record with a 10.36 ERA in 21 starts. One of his better starts of the year did come against the Twins on June 20, however, as he went seven innings allowing one run in a 4-1 victory.

While these aren’t staggering numbers, they’re players the Twins will need to keep in check and with others such as Adalberto Mondesi (who has hit .316 with a .982 OPS against the Twins this season), Jorge Soler (45 HR in 2019) and Hunter Dozier (.286, 26 HR, 82 RBI) there are players who could make Minnesota’s life difficult this weekend.

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