The Minnesota Twins head to Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday, August 4, for a 7:40 PM ET showdown against the Kansas City Royals. Joe Ryan gets the ball for Minnesota against Kansas City's Randy Dobnak in what shapes up as an intriguing AL Central clash. With the division race very much in play at this stage of the season, there are no throwaway games on the schedule — every win on the road matters, and the Twins need to take care of business against a Royals team that can make life difficult at home.

Pitching Matchup: Joe Ryan vs. Randy Dobnak

Joe Ryan is the clear headliner of this matchup. The right-hander has established himself as one of the most reliable arms in Minnesota's rotation, with a sharp fastball-changeup combination that generates swings and misses deep into starts. His ability to eat innings and limit walks makes him exactly the kind of starter you want on the road in a tight divisional game.

On the other side, Randy Dobnak is no stranger to Twins fans — the sinker-heavy right-hander spent years in the Minnesota organization before landing in Kansas City. Dobnak's ground-ball approach can be effective when his command is on, but lineups that stay disciplined and work counts tend to give him trouble. The Twins will need patient at-bats to make him work.

Twins Lineup Keys to Watch

• Trevor Larnach leads off for Minnesota and will set the table from left field. Getting on base early against Dobnak is critical to putting pressure on the Kansas City defense.
• Ryan Jeffers hits second and provides the kind of on-base presence the Twins want protecting their lineup's top of the order.
• Josh Bell slots in at DH and bats third — Bell's ability to do damage against right-handed pitching will be important given Dobnak's profile.
• Royce Lewis at first base and batting fifth is a name to watch every single night. His presence in the middle of the order gives this lineup a genuine threat for extra bases.
• Brooks Lee at third base continues to develop, and his at-bats against a sinker-ball pitcher like Dobnak will be a telling subplot.

Royals Lineup Threat

Kansas City is not a team to take lightly at Kauffman Stadium. Bobby Witt Jr. batting second is one of the most dangerous players in the American League — Ryan will need to pitch carefully to the shortstop and not let him beat him with a big hit. Cleanup hitter Salvador Perez is a veteran presence capable of changing a game with one swing, and Jac Caglianone at first base adds length to a lineup that can put up crooked numbers in a hurry.

How to Watch and Listen

Tuesday's game is available on Twins.TV Presented by Progressive and Royals.TV on the television side. Radio listeners in Minnesota can tune in to WCCO 830 AM, 96.5 The Fan FM, or catch the game on the Audacy App. Spanish-language coverage is available at LosTwins.com.

Prediction

Joe Ryan is the difference-maker in this one. If he can keep Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez in check, the Twins offense should have enough firepower against Dobnak to push runs across. Look for Minnesota to grind out a 4-2 road win and keep pace in the AL Central standings.