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KC@CLE: Smith notches his first big league win

The Royals' Will Smith and the Twins' Cole De Vries will be making their third career starts on Monday when their teams hook up for the opener of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

The teams split a rain-shortened two-game set at Kansas City in April.

The 22-year old Smith is making his first start at home. The lefty said he's still adjusting to life in the big leagues.

"You start to get into a rhythm and a routine like you would at every level, with your running and your working out," Smith said. "You get more relaxed and prepared and ready for your next start."

Smith appeared to be much more relaxed in his second start compared to his first. After lasting just 3 1/3 innings in his debut against the Yankees on May 23, Smith allowed two runs on four hits in Cleveland on Tuesday.

Royals manager Ned Yost said he's been impressed with Smith's breaking pitches thus far, as well as the way Smith went right after Cleveland hitters early.

De Vries tossed five scoreless innings against the A's in his last outing, but also walked five and hit a batter. He'll be focusing on controlling his pitches a little better this time around.

"I did a good job getting myself out of jams, but you can get burned in those situations," De Vries said. "So I'll try to limit those for the next start."

Twins: Pavano hits disabled list
Right-hander Carl Pavano was placed on the 15-day DL on Monday with a right shoulder strain. In a corresponding move, the Twins reinstated right-hander Nick Blackburn, who will take Pavano's turn in the rotation on Wednesday.

• The Twins are 5-1 while wearing their 'M' hats -- a trend that started last Monday. They'll be looking to ride their streak of good fortune while donning the hats the club wore when it won World Series titles in 1987 and '91.

"I wear whatever hat they give me. They said, 'Let's go to these.' It's superstition, whatever you want," Gardenhire said.

• Entering Sunday's game against Cleveland, the Twins' bullpen had held opponents to a .230 (154-for-669) average, including a .269 average on balls in play, which is fourth lowest in the Major Leagues.

Royals: Moustakas given the day to rest
Royals manager Ned Yost gave third baseman Mike Moustakas a day off from the starting lineup on Sunday for the first time since Kansas City traveled to Oakland in the first week of the season. He did enter the game late as a defensive replacement in the eighth and singled in his lone at-bat.

"I didn't want to give him a day off [Sunday]. But sometimes you've got to pick your spots," Yost said. "He's been in there every single day, been playing his tail off, and it was just a good day to give him a little bit of a break."

Moustakas is batting .274 with 25 RBIs. His .959 fielding percentage also puts him in the top-10 of Major League third basemen.

• In his last seven games since moving to the leadoff spot, Alex Gordon is batting 10-for-28 with five doubles and three multi-hit games. Gordon hit .305 in 89 games while batting first in the lineup last season.

• The Royals have hit 111 doubles, placing them behind Boston for the most in the Majors.

Worth noting
• The Twins have been out-homered, 71-38.

• The Royals are 18-8 when scoring first, and are 18-9 when scoring more than three runs.

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