This game could be low scoring as Kyle Gibson (4-3, 3.00 ERA) and the Minnesota Twins (33-25) meet Edinson Volquez (4-4, 3.26 ERA) and the Kansas City Royals (33-23) in the last of a three-game series at Target Field. The Royals won the last game 2-0 and Kansas City leads the series 2-0. The game gets underway at 8:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jun. 10 and will air on FSN-KC and FSN-N.
Gibson has a 2.03 ERA and a 4-1 record in his career against the Royals, but faces a strong Kansas City offense that’s hitting .270 on the year. In his career against the Twins, Volquez is 1-1 with a 2.18 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts. Kendrys Morales (.292, 33 Rs, 7 HRs, 41 RBIs) went 1 for 3 yesterday.
Minnesota is a slight underdog (-101) and the Over/Under (O/U) is eight runs. The Twins are 27-19 as the underdog and have an overall money line of +1,566. They have a 16-16 record SU and are 14-14 as the underdog within their division. Minnesota has averaged 3.2 runs per game over the last 10 games, lower than its season average of 4.3. Transitioning to the pitching staff, the Twins don’t give up many walks to opposing batters, leading the AL with only 2.3 walks allowed per game.
On the other side, the Royals have a record of 18-13 when they are favored and are +718 overall with the money line. Against divisional opponents, they are 17-12 SU and have played well as the favorite with a 10-6 record. During the last 10 games, they averaged 2.7 runs per game, below their 4.4 season average. Kansas City is one of the top hitting teams in the AL with an average of 9.2 hits per contest. Opposing pitchers have routinely struggled to strike out the Kansas City batters, who average an AL-low 5.9 strikeouts per game. Switching gears to Kansas City’s pitching staff, they have a WHIP of 1.21, fifth best in the MLB.
The Royals have gotten the better of the Twins in head-to-head matchups this season, going 5-3. The Twins will take on a right-hander (Volquez) in this game and have an 18-16 record against right-handed starting pitchers this season. Taking the hill against the Royals will be the right-hander Gibson. They sport a 22-16 record against righties.
Predictions: SU Winner – KC, O/U – Over
Notes
Kansas City won its last game in a shutout, its fourth of the season. Minnesota has been shut out five times this season.
The Twins and the Royals are both 3-1 in games that go into extra innings.
The Royals managed to give up four walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Twins who are heading in with an 11-1 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Royals are 2-18. The Twins have a 6-23 record when opponents outhit them.
Both falling near the bottom of the league based on total home runs this season, Minnesota ranks 24th with 45 homers and Kansas City is 27th with 42.
Ranking eighth, Minnesota is in the top 10 of the league in hits, notching 8.49 per game. Kansas City ranks in the top five at second with 9.20.
Ranking 26th, Minnesota is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.680). Kansas City ranks in the top 10 at eighth with an OPS of .728.
The Royals are 14-16 when they allow at least one home run. The Twins perform similarly when they allow one or more homers with an 18-19 record.
