The Kansas City Royals are heading north to play their divisional rival Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Fox Sports Kansas City will be showing the matchup and the first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins Odds
Kansas City (+175) is coming into this one as the underdog to Minnesota (-185) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds sitting at -125 for the Royals +1.5 runs and +105 for the Twins -1.5 runs.
The Royals have gone 33-73 SU this year and are 50-57 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 24.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 15.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven. The Twins, on the other hand, are 48-56 SU and 59-48 ATS. The team’s lost 11.0 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 8.4 units ATS. Minnesota has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has cashed in six of those seven.
Minnesota games have had an over/under record of 50-54-3 in 2018. The Royals have been a good under bet with a total record of 44-57-6.
Heath Fillmyer will get the start for Kansas City. Fillmyer is 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA and 15 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Twins this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Twins are going with righty Jake Odorizzi (4-7, 4.58 ERA), who has 118 punchouts and 47 walks to his name, as well as a 1.42 WHIP. Odorizzi is 0-0 with eight strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starters own a 5.26 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 7.35 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.44, along with a K/9 of 6.97.
The Royals offense has slashed .241/.305/.374 on its way to 3.7 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have paced Kansas City’s hitters. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .297/.367/.423 with six home runs, 35 RBIs, 51 runs and 24 stolen bases, while Moustakas (.249/.309/.468) has produced 20 homers, 62 RBIs and 46 runs scored.
For the home team, Minnesota’s pitching staff has given up 4.7 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have a 4.28 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.75 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 9.4 K/9. In 37 games against divisional foes, Twins starters have an ERA of 4.22 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.83.
Minnesota’s hitters have produced 4.5 runs per contest, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .236/.312/.346 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Twins’ batters have been led by outfielder Eddie Rosario and shortstop Eduardo Escobar. Rosario is slashing .297/.340/.499 with 19 home runs, 64 RBIs and 69 runs scored, and Escobar’s line is .274/.338/.514 with 15 homers, 63 RBIs and 45 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 22.4 units and are 30-42 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over’s hit in 31 of those games, compared to 36 that’ve gone under against -handed starting pitchers.
Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has cashed in three of Kansas City’s last seven games.
Minnesota has recorded 21.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.4 over its last five.
The Royals have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
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