Twins and Royals Face Off in Rubber Match

Kansas City looks to complete series sweep over Minnesota

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:45pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins, with sharp, overlapping planes of royal blue, white, navy blue, and red.The Royals and Twins square off in a pivotal early-season AL Central showdown, with Kansas City looking to complete the series sweep.Kansas City Today

The Kansas City Royals (3-2) are seeking to complete a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins (1-4) in their series finale on Thursday. The Royals won the first two games, including a wild 13-9 victory on Monday in which they led 12-1 heading into the seventh inning.

Why it matters

This series has major implications for the early-season standings in the AL Central division, with the Royals looking to build on their strong start and the Twins hoping to bounce back from their slow beginning.

The details

The Royals and Twins will square off at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:10 PM local time. Kansas City will send veteran right-hander Brad Keller to the mound, while Minnesota will counter with young left-hander Devin Smeltzer.

  • The series finale is set for Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM Central Time.

The players

Brad Keller

A right-handed starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.

Devin Smeltzer

A left-handed starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.

Kansas City Royals

A Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Minnesota Twins

A Major League Baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“We know the Twins are a tough team, but we've been playing some really good baseball so far. We're confident we can go out there and get the sweep today.”

— Salvador Perez, Royals Catcher

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a 2-1 series lead and gain an early advantage in the AL Central standings.

The takeaway

This rubber match between the Royals and Twins features two teams heading in opposite directions early in the season, with Kansas City looking to build on their strong start and Minnesota hoping to turn things around.