Twins aim to respond after shutout loss, face Royals in Game 110

The Twins open a new day of roster-and-rhythm questions in Game 110 against the Royals, trying to reverse momentum after a shutout loss the night before. Minnesota’s problem was not just missing opportunities, it was failing to sustain consistent contact for long enough stretches to force the Royals into a deeper bullpen day, a recurring theme in many one-sided games.

The setback carried an extra sting because it came courtesy of an ex-Twin, Randy Dobnak, who was singled out in the game preview as the pitcher who accounted for the shutout. For a team already searching for stability in its run production, that kind of outcome can leave a narrow margin for error in the very next game, especially with the calendar tightening toward late-summer baseball.

Now the Twins must reset their approach against a Royals opponent described in the preview as a difficult left-handed presence, referred to as an “anonymous lefty” whose Triple-A ERA has been over 5. While a minor-league statistical profile is not a direct translation to major-league results, it still shapes expectations for the kind of at-bats the Twins may see, including how frequently the pitcher might land strikes versus fall into predictable counts.

The matchup is notable less for a confirmed, marquee name on the hill and more for the contrast it sets up. Minnesota’s priority is to turn the page from being shut down and to do the most basic things well: make pitchers work, avoid long, inefficient innings, and avoid letting a game become a procession. In that sense, the Royals’ pitching plan, even with a less established starter, creates a test of the Twins’ ability to build early success rather than chase it late.

The game also carries the familiar pressure of timing and execution. First pitch is set for 12:40 p.m. CT, with and local and radio coverage including TIBN/830 WCCO/102.9 The Wolf and the Audacy app noted in the preview. Those broadcast details matter for fans, but the underlying point is that the Twins do not get the luxury of a long reset. What they do in the first few innings likely dictates how the rest of the afternoon plays out.

What to watch next is whether Minnesota can convert the kind of contact that tends to keep innings alive into actual innings that change the game. Against a left-hander with a less-than-sterling Triple-A track record, the Twins’ approach becomes a measuring stick: do hitters drive the ball with intention, or do they chase the pitcher’s best looks? Equally important is whether Minnesota’s early plate discipline forces the Royals to stay in the strike zone more than they want.

For Kansas City, the objective is straightforward. The Royals need their starter to get through the early stages without allowing Minnesota to set the tone, then rely on the bullpen if the game becomes one of those situations where one extra big inning swings everything. With the Twins coming off a shutout, the Royals’ best path is to prevent Minnesota from finding its timing quickly, then let innings accumulate into another uncomfortable day for Minnesota’s hitters.