The Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins continue their three-game series on Tuesday night in Minnesota. The Royals are well in back of the top three teams in the AL Central Division and will spend the rest of the secon half evaluating some of their young talent. As for the Twins, they went all-in at the trade deadline trying to support a playoff push and anything short of making the postseason in 2022 will be considered a failure. On the mound on Tuesday night will be two veteran right-handers as Zack Grienke (4-7, 4.29) of the Royals takes on Sonny Gray (6-3, 3.33) of the Twins. Game time is scheduled for 7:40pm EST.
While the Kansas City Royals are far removed from the playoff picture in 2022, the team has aspirations in the coming years of making a playoff push. The Royals have been able to incorporate young up-and-comers like Bobby Witt Jr. and MJ Melendez with veterans like Hunter Dozier, Michael Taylor and long-time Royals all-star Salvador Perez in their everyday lineup. On the mound, veterans like Brad Keller and Tuesday's starter Zack Grienke have served as mentors to the Royals young starters like Kris Bubic, Daniel Lynch and Brady Singer. On Monday night, after a first-inning two-run home run by Vinnie Pasquantino, the Royals bats went silent the rest of the way and fell to the Twins in game one of the series. Starter Kris Bubic took the loss after allowing 10 hits and allowing four runs in 5.2 innings.
Great energy to end the homestand. #HEYHEYHEYHEY pic.twitt er.com/6FSDKTzil2
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 14, 2022
The Royals mix of veterans and youngsters has at least made the Royals an entertaining club as they continue to rebuild. Witt Jr an Melendez have proven to be potential cornerstones for the Royals future success. Witt Jr. leads the team in hits, RBI, stolen bases and total bases this season. Meanwhile, Melendez is third on the team in home runs and RBI despite not becoming a regular until May this season. One of the Royals veteran mentors will take the hill on Tuesday night as right-hander Zack Greinke will get the nod. Greinke is third on the team in innings pitched and WHIP this season thus far. In his last five starts, Greinke is 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA. Greinke has thrown 25 innings and given up 32 hits over this span and struck out 18 batters while walking six. Greinke is 0-2 in two starts against the Twins this season while giving up 12 hits in nine innings with a 6.00 ERA.