A pair of promising young pitchers will take to the mound on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium, as the Minnesota Twins will try to keep pace with Chicago in the American League Central when they visit the Kansas City Royals in the second of a three-game series.

Francisco Liriano (1-3, 7.16) made his first start for the Twins since April 24th, when he was shelled by light-hitting Oakland before he was sent to the minors to work on his technique. Liriano tossed a three-hitter over six innings, along with five strikeouts and three walks in a 6-2 win at home over Cleveland. The 24-year-old southpaw had to go to the minors after missing all of last year with rotator cuff problems, which forced him to undergo the dreaded Tommy John surgery, and he was very rusty. However, the once highly-touted phenom looks to be getting back to his best. Liriano's first game back was against the Royals, and he lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with five walks and four strikeouts in a 5-1 loss in Kansas City.

Zack Greinke (9-7, 3.93) won his second straight start as the Royals routed the White Sox 14-3 at home, giving up a pair of runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out six along the way. However, Greinke was suspended for five games when he hit Chicago's Nick Swisher, two innings after there was a bench-clearing brawl. The 24-year-old righthander also committed an error in what was a very eventful game, but his six Ks bumped him up to 131, good for seventh in the American League. Greinke threw a season-high 117 pitches to earn a no-decision in a 9-8 extra-inning loss at home to the Twins, giving up three runs on five hits over eight innings.

Ahead of Friday's series opener, the Twins had taken seven of nine with the Royals this season, including five of six in Kansas City. Greinke has been great at home with a 4-1 mark in nine starts with a 2.93 ERA, but Liriano will be eager to avenge his last meeting with the Royals.

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