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Radke returns to Twins' rotation vs. Royals

Sep 28, 2006 - 1:31 PM Kansas City (59-99) at Minnesota (94-64) 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins will have a better idea of who will start Game Three of the American League Division Series after Brad Radke takes the mound Thursday.

Battling a torn labrum and stress fracture in his right shoulder, Radke makes his first start in more than a month as the Twins host the finale of a four-game series with the last-place Kansas City Royals.

Radke (12-9, 4.46 ERA) last pitched on August 25, when he allowed three runs and four hits in two innings against the Chicago White Sox. With a strong performance Thursday against Kansas City, the 33-year-old Radke could be tabbed to start the third game of the ALDS behind ace Johan Santana and rookie Boof Bonser.

In his last meeting with the Royals on August 3, Radke allowed two runs and four hits in eight innings of an 8-2 win to improve to 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA against Kansas City this year. He has a lifetime mark of 12-10 with a 4.20 ERA in 32 starts vs. the Royals.

Radke has gone 8-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 14 starts this season at the Metrodome, where the Twins had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 6-4 setback Wednesday. With the defeat, Minnesota remained one game behind Detroit in the chase for the AL Central title.

Trying to avoid off a fourth 100-loss campaign in the last five years, Kansas City gives the ball to Luke Hudson (7-6, 5.49). The lefthander is seeking his first win since August 30, when he allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings of a 4-3 triumph here.

In his ensuing start September 4, Hudson gave up just one run and recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in seven innings against the first-place New York Yankees. However, Kansas City's bullpen surrendered 10 runs in the eighth en route to a 12-5 loss.