Twins' Odorizzi hopes to conquer Royals

Minnesota Twins right-hander Jake Odorizzi leads the American League with a 1.92 ERA, and his nine wins trail only Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox, who just won his 10th on Friday night.

But the main spotlight won't be shining on Odorizzi when he starts Saturday night's game against the Kansas City Royals. No, that honor will go to his former batterymate, Joe Mauer.

Mauer, a three-time batting champ and the 2009 AL MVP, will have his No. 7 retired in a special ceremony preceding the game at sold-out Target Field.

"He's meant so much to this organization and to me in my career," Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson said after holding the Royals to just two hits over eight innings in a 2-0 victory on Friday night.

"To get this weekend started off with a win and to see all the festivities tomorrow is going to be a lot of fun. One of the best baseball players this city has seen."

If Odorizzi pitches like he has over his last 10 starts, he might one day see his No. 12 up on the limestone wall down the left field line along with Mauer, Harmon Killebrew (3), Tony Oliva (6), Tom Kelly (10), Kent Hrbek (14), Bert Blyleven (28), Rod Carew (29), Kirby Puckett (34) and Jackie Robinson (42).

Since April 17, Odorizzi is 9-0 with a 1.07 ERA over 59 innings with 63 strikeouts and 13 walks. He allowed one run on five hits over six innings while striking out eight in his last start, a 12-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

Odorizzi has struggled against Kansas City in his career, however. He is 2-4 with a 4.37 ERA in nine appearances and eight career starts against the Royals.

Kansas City, which is a major league worst 8-24 on the road, will start right-hander Glenn Sparkman (1-2, 3.58 ERA). Sparkman will make his first start against Minnesota and is 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA in four career appearances against the Twins.

Minnesota is 15-6 against AL Central opponents this season, including 10-3 at Target Field. The Twins improved to 3-0 against the Royals after Friday night's 2-0 victory, which featured a two-run homer by catcher Mitch Garver off reliever Jake Diekman with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

"It was a good pitch," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "It was right on the black. ... It wasn't a bad pitch at all. (Garver) just got the bat head on it."

The loss spoiled another good pitching performance by starter Brad Keller, who blanked the Twins on three hits and three walks over seven innings. Kansas City's starters have compiled a 1.73 ERA over the last six games.

Keller also hit Byron Buxton with a pitch leading off the sixth inning. Buxton stayed in the game and made a nice running catch in the gap in left-center on a long Cheslor Cuthbert drive in the eighth before Marwin Gonzalez pinch-hit for him in the bottom half.

Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said tests done on the bruised right wrist were negative.

"Byron is fine," Baldelli said. "The result of that, obviously, is good. We'll see how he is tomorrow when he gets here. But it's pretty positive news."

--Field Level Media