Eager to build on their modest three-game winning streak, the Minnesota Twins will kick off a three-game series with Kansas City on Tuesday night from Target Field.
With his MLB suspension for throwing at the head of Texas slugger Josh Hamilton now a thing of the past, Twins left-hander Scott Diamond will take the mound Tuesday looking for his 12 victory of the season. Diamond is 1-1 with a 3.86 earned-run average in two starts against the Royals this year, but enters looking to bounce back from a pair of sub-par outings since being ejected against the Rangers on Aug. 23.
After sitting out Monday's game, outfielder Darin Mastroianni will open the series as Ron Gardenhire's starting right fielder and bat eighth in Tuesday's game. The 27-year-old Mastroianni owns a .255 average with 17 runs batted in through 69 games, but has been extremely successful on the basepaths with 19 stolen bases in 21 attempts.
Here are the starting lineups for the first game of the series:
Twins
1. Ben Revere - CF
2. Jamey Carroll - 2B
3. Joe Mauer - C
4. Justin Morneau - 1B
5. Josh Willingham - LF
6. Ryan Doumit - DH
7. Trevor Plouffe - 3B
8. Darin Mastroianni - RF
9. Pedro Florimon Jr. - SS
Scott Diamond - SP
Royals
1. Lorenzo Cain - CF
2. Alcides Escobar - SS
3. Alex Gordon - LF
4. Billy Butler - DH
5. Salvador Perez - C
6. Mike Moustakas - 3B
7. Jeff Francoeur - RF
8. Eric Hosmer - 1b
9. Johnny Giavotella - 2B
Will Smith - SP
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