HUNTER DOZIER

In a continued battle for last place in the American League Central, the Detroit Tigers meet the Kansas City Royals in the second game of their three-game set on Wednesday. Watch the Detroit Tigers on DirecTV StreamThe Tigers were able to close that gap for fourth place in the division thanks to some timely hitting in the series opener on Tuesday. The Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second frame, before going up by three in the fourth. PROBABLE STARTERSDET: Matt Manning (2-3, 3.43 ERA)KC: Daniel Lynch (4-11, 5.06 ERA)Check out more stories about the Detroit Tigers here on MLiveWhat: MLB BaseballWho: Kansas City Royals (63-91) vs. Detroit Tigers (61-92)When: Wednesday, September 28Time: 6:40 p.m. ETWhere: Comerica Park (Detroit, Mich.)Channel: Bally Sports DetroitStream: DirecTV StreamBuy Tigers gear : Fanatics, Amazon, LidsBuy Tigers tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, TicketmasterStream Tigers games live: DirecTV StreamCheck out the MLB standings and results on MLB.com

Minnesota rookie Joe Ryan and reliever Jovani Moran combined to pitch no-hit ball until Bobby Witt Jr. doubled with one out in the ninth inning as the Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 6-3.

Bobby Witt Jr.’s eighth-inning double brought in the go-ahead run and the Kansas City Royals edged the Detroit Tigers 3-2.

The Kansas City Royals are busy patching up a roster decimated by players barred from traveling to Toronto because of their COVID-19 vaccination status while trying to heal their damaged image among fans.

The Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19.

On Saturday afternoon, the Detroit Tigers get set to take the field in the second game of their three-game weekend series with their divisional rivals in the Kansas City Royals. Watch the Detroit Tigers on DirecTV StreamThe Tigers offense was fairly quiet in the series opener on Friday night, only picking up six hits. Kansas City was able to jump out in front in the third inning, before roughing up the returning Michael Pineda with back-to-back home runs from Vinnie Pasquantino and Hunter Dozier the following inning. Pineda ended up pitching five innings, giving up the three runs on seven hits, while striking out seven. PROBABLE STARTERSDET: Alex Faedo (1-4, 4.84 ERA)KC: Brady Singer (3-3, 4.50 ERA)Check out more stories about the Detroit Tigers here on MLiveWhat: MLB BaseballWho: Kansas City Royals (28-47) vs. Detroit Tigers (29-46)When: Saturday, July 2Time: 4:10 p.m.

Vinnie Pasquantino hit his first major league home run and Hunter Dozier followed with a drive into the bullpen, leading Brad Keller and the Kansas City Royals over the Detroit Tigers 3-1.

Zach Greinke allowed just one run on four hits, helping the Kansas City Royals avoid a three-game sweep by beating the Texas Rangers 2-1.

MJ Melendez and Emmanuel Rivera drove in two runs apiece, leading Brady Singer and the Kansas City Royals over the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 to end a three-game losing streak.

Hunter Dozier homered to break a tie in the sixth, and lead the Kansas City Royals to a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers.

-- Detroit Tigers lost their first game to the Kansas City Royals on Saturday; they hope they didn’t lose another starting pitcher. Matt Manning left after just two innings and the Tigers could muster little offensively in a 3-1 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals scored the go-ahead runs in the sixth inning off Tigers reliever Will Vest. The Tigers scored in the second inning when center fielder Daz Cameron drew a two-out walk. Box scoreUp nextThe Tigers and Royals wrap up their four-game series on Sunday at 2:10 p.m. Tigers lefty Tyler Alexander (0-0, 5.06 ERA) will face Royals right-hander Carlos Hernandez (0-0, 8.31).

Victor Reyes and Austin Meadows had RBI singles in the seventh inning, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2.

Steven Kwan kept up an historic start to his big league career with a bases-loaded triple, Oscar Mercado added a two-run homer and the Cleveland Guardians beat Kansas City 10-7 to split their season-opening series.

Prized rookie Bobby Witt Jr. made an eye-popping play at third base to nail a runner at the plate in the top of the 10th inning, then Adalberto Mondesi’s RBI single in the bottom half lifted the Kansas City Royals over the Cleveland Guardians 1-0.

It wasn’t that long ago that New York Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres was one of the game’s young stars.

Salvador Perez hit his 46th home run, breaking Johnny Bench’s record for most by a catcher in a season to highlight the opener, then the Kansas City Royals completed a doubleheader sweep by beating the Cleveland Indians 4-2.

Formerly a fleet outfielder, Anthony Gose returned to the majors five years later Monday night as a rocket-armed reliever for the Cleveland Indians, flashing 100 mph heat and finishing his outing by fanning Royals slugger Salvador Perez.

Gerrit Cole’s strikeouts and spin rate dropped as he pitched for the first time since Major League Baseball’s crackdown on sticky substances, and the Kansas City Royals rallied off Jonathan Loiasiga for four runs in the eighth inning to beat the New York Yankees 6-5.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ 11-game winning streak came to an end when Brad Keller pitched seven strong innings and Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking RBI single to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory.

Rookie Andrew Vaughn, starting the nightcap at first base after AL MVP Jose Abreu was injured in a frightening collision in the first game, homered to send the Chicago White Sox over the Kansas City Royals 3-1 for a doubleheader split.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu and Kansas City third baseman Hunter Dozier were injured after colliding hard on the first base line in the opener of a doubleheader Friday.

Danny Duffy pitched five scoreless innings, and the Kansas City Royals kept Detroit’s offense quiet again in a 4-0 victory over the Tigers.

The Nationals and Atlanta Braves hadn’t heard by Sunday evening whether Major League Baseball will allow their game while Washington deals with a COVID-19 outbreak that could prevent 11 players from participating.

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 file photo, Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez celebrates with third base coach Vance Wilson after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Royals have given six-time All-Star catcher Salvador Prez the richest contract in club history, a four-year, $82 million deal that begins in 2022. Kansas City announced Sunday, March 21, 2021 it had extended Prez's time with the team. That's when the Royals gave the six-time All-Star catcher a four-year, $82 million deal — the richest in club history — that will begin after his current contract in 2022. The value of the new deal surpasses the four-year, $72 million contract the Royals gave outfielder Alex Gordon in 2016.

Trevor Williams went five innings in his fourth start, allowing a run on three hits. Austin Gomber made his fourth start for Colorado, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out four in 4 1/3 innings. Dylan Cease made his second start, allowing three hits and three walks in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Matthew Boyd made his fourth start, allowing one run on four hits and a walk in four innings, striking out five. Tyler Anderson went five innings in his fourth start for Pittsburgh, giving up one run on two hits.

– The Royals made official their $25 million, four-year contract with third baseman Hunter Dozier on Monday, ensuring that another member of their young foundation is under club control for the foreseeable future. And we want that to happen in Kansas City.”AdDozier's deal replaces a $2.72 million, one-year contract he agreed to on Dec. 2. He gets a $1 million signing bonus and will earn $2.25 million this year, $4.5 million in 2022, $7.25 million in 2023 and $9 million in 2024. The Royals have a $10 million option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout. Ad“Hunter is willing to do whatever is necessary to help the team win,” Moore added.

AdStill, the Royals believe Dozier will revert to form with a full spring training and 162-game season. “I definitely don't think you throw it away,” he said. So I'm definitely looking forward to a normal season.”Dozier is also looking forward to a consistent spot in the everyday lineup. AdGiven his relatively bumpy road to this point, Dozier — and evidently the Royals — believe his best is yet to come. But I definitely think there is another level.

– The Kansas City Royals and veteran first baseman Carlos Santana have agreed to a $17 million, two-year contract that plugs one of their biggest offensive holes while providing some clubhouse leadership for a rebuilding club. The 34-year-old Santana was an All-Star two years ago in Cleveland, when he hit a career-best .281 with 34 homers and 93 RBIs. Santana has hit .288 with 31 homers and 93 RBIs in 151 career games against them, the best of any team in the division. Relief pitcher Mike Minor signed an $18 million, two-year deal and outfielder Michael Taylor a $1.75 million deal for next season, and nearly all their arbitration-eligible players are under contract. That includes an $8.05 million contract for slugger Jorge Soler and a $3.35 million deal for staff ace Brad Keller.

The total cut was one more than the previous high at the tender deadline, ahead of the 2004 season. Schwarber earned $2,596,296 in prorated pay from his $7.01 million salary last season but hit .188 with 11 homers in 59 games, down from 38 homers, 92 RBIs and a .250 batting average in 155 games in 2019. Schwarber returned from a serious knee injury and hit .412 with two RBIs in the 2016 World Series as the Cubs won their first championship since 1908. Fifty-nine players agreed to one-year contracts ahead of the deadline, many of them facing a threat of being cut. Minnesota reached deals with five players, including pitcher José Berríos ($500,000 signing bonus plus $5.6 million salary) and center fielder Byron Buxton ($5,125,000).

Tigers right-hander Spencer Turnbull (4-3, 3.83 ERA) will make his final start of the year against Royals right-hander Brad Keller (4-3, 2.77). Top 7th: In their first chance to face someone other than Brad Keller, the Tigers clawed back some runs in the seventh. Bottom 3rd: After allowing runs in each of the first two innings, Spencer Turnbull gets a much-needed 1-2-3 third. Top 1st: Royals starter Brad Keller retired the Tigers in order, getting Willi Castro and Miguel Cabrera to go down swinging. LINEUPSHere's how we line up for what some are calling a "must watch" game.#DetroitRoots pic.twitter.com/xAQbA80ukM — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 25, 2020

DHs in the National League, well, OK. An automatic runner on second to start the 10th inning? If this is what its going to be, this is whats going to be, Scherzer said. Four months after the games were supposed to start, strange ball is better than no ball, right? Opening day brings a tasty doubleheader: a marquee pitching matchup in Washington, followed by the nightcap at Dodger Stadium when Clayton Kershaw taking on the San Francisco Giants. Is it going to be perfect the very first day? As manager Bob Melvin said.

Kansas City Royals' Hunter Dozier bats during the first inning of an exhibition baseball game against the Houston Astros in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, July 20, 2020. Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Dozier has tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the injured list before the club played its final exhibition game against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Wednesday. And it still snuck up on them.The positive test leaves Matheny with another hole to fill in his starting lineup. Ryan McBroom, who made his big league debut last season, will likely start at first base with O'Hearn sidelined by the virus. Danny Duffy will start opening day against Cleveland and rookie Brady Singer will make his big league debut on Saturday.

(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)DETROIT - Hunter Dozier and Jorge Soler each homered twice, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 10-2 on Sunday for a split of the four-game series between the worst teams in the AL Central. The Royals won their second in a row after losing six of seven. Norris retired the next batter, but Dozier hit his third homer of the series into the Royals' bullpen in left-center. They swept the Royals in three games in April and won two of three from Kansas City in May. They are 9-7 against Kansas City this season and 26-73 against the rest of the major leagues.