The Kansas City Royals are ready to face their divisional foe Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the action. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
Vegas has listed Minnesota (-215) as the favorite over Kansas City (+195). Bettors can gamble on the game’s total with odds sitting at -110 for over 9 runs and -110 for under 9. You can also bet on the game’s spread with the runline odds sitting at Royals +1.5 runs (-110) and Twins -1.5 runs (-110).
The Royals are 46-94 SU and have gone 68-71 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 27.9 units for moneyline bettors and 11.0 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Twins, on the other hand, are 64-76 SU and 70-69 ATS. They’ve lost 14.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.1 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread just once in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Twins games have had an over/under record of 67-69-3 in 2018. Kansas City has been a decent under bet with a total record of 60-69-10.
Jorge Lopez will get the start for Kansas City. The right-handed Lopez (1-4, 4.24 ERA) has racked up 33 strikeouts in 40.1 innings so far. He has yet to face the Twins this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Twins are turning to righty Jose Berrios (11-10, 3.92 ERA), who has 171 punchouts and 49 walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 1.15. Berrios is 2-0 with 14 strikeouts and a 1.93 ERA over two starts against Kansas City this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.13 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.41 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.17, along with a WHIP of 1.45.
Royals hitters have slashed .244/.307/.387 on their way to 3.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez continue to lead Kansas City’s hitters. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .303/.368/.435 with 11 home runs, 51 RBIs, 70 runs and 30 stolen bases, while Perez is hitting .235 with 24 homers, 68 RBIs and 45 runs scored.
For the home team, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.9 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have an ERA of 4.71, a WHIP of 1.41 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.2. The bullpen has a 4.55 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 60 games against AL Central opponents, Twins starters have an ERA of 4.86 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.05.
The Minnesota offense is putting up 4.4 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .234/.319/.347 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Outfielder Eddie Rosario and first baseman Joe Mauer have led the Twins’ batters this year. Rosario is hitting .293/.330/.489 with 23 home runs, 75 RBIs and 85 runs scored, and Mauer’s line is .273/.345/.371 with five homers, 39 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 23.4 units and are 45-52 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 46 of those games, compared to 44 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 7.0 units and are 50-48 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 49 of those games, compared to 47 that went under the total.
Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
Kansas City has recorded 19 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Minnesota has nine XBH over its last five.
The Kansas City defense has allowed eight errors over the last 10 games, compared to 13 errors for Minnesota over its last 10.
The Royals have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games. The Twins have hit 12 over their last 10.
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