MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins meet Wednesday night at Target Field in Bloomington, with the Twins aiming to build on a tight divisional race. Minnesota (53-54) enters the 6:10 p.m. CT first pitch following an 11-8 victory over the Athletics on Sunday that evened its series. The Twins have won three of their last four games and hold a 1-0 lead in the current series after a 1-0 shutout of Kansas City on Tuesday. Kansas City (45-62) sits in last place in the American League Central but arrives on a three-game winning streak, capped by a 5-4 win at Detroit on July 26. The Royals have shown resilience, taking five of their last six contests after a four-game split with the Tigers. The projected starting pitchers are right-handers Luinder Avila for Kansas City and Connor Prielipp for Minnesota. Avila is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA over his last four outings. On July 26, he threw 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out two in a win at Detroit. He also worked 5 1/3 innings against the Giants on July 21, giving up five hits and two earned runs with seven strikeouts in a victory. Avila’s season is marked by consistency, and he will look to continue a stretch in which he has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his past three starts. Prielipp, the Twins’ right-hander, is coming off a strong performance Sunday against the Athletics: 5 2/3 innings, two hits, one earned run and five strikeouts in a win. On July 8, he threw five innings against Cleveland, surrendering four hits and three earned runs while fanning six. Prielipp has posted quality starts in two of his last three outings and will aim to keep the Royals off balance early. The teams have played a competitive season series. In their most recent meeting Tuesday, the Twins won 1-0. The Royals have taken five of eight matchups this year, including a four-game split at Target Field from June 4-7. Kansas City won three of four in that set, outscoring the Twins 20-18. In their earlier series at Kauffman Stadium (March 30-April 2), the Royals took two of three, with an 8-6 loss in the opener followed by a 13-9 win and a 3-1 victory. Weather conditions at game time are forecast to be 86 degrees with clouds, which could play into the hands of pitchers or hitters depending on the wind. The Interstat game simulator projects a 6-5 Kansas City victory, but Minnesota enters as a -1.5 run-line favorite. The over/under is 8.5 total runs. Kansas City’s offense in Sunday’s win was sparked by Michael Massey, who pinch-hit and went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs. Minnesota’s lineup in its Sunday win featured shortstop Ryan Kreidler (3-for-4, one RBI) and right fielder/first baseman Kody Clemens (3-for-5, one RBI). Following Wednesday’s game, the teams meet again Thursday in the series finale before heading to separate road trips: Kansas City travels to Colorado, while Minnesota visits Seattle.