The Kansas City Royals will head north to take on their division rival Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast the action and the game is scheduled to get underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins Odds
Minnesota (-200) is the favorite against Kansas City (+185) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs (-110 for both the over and the under). The game’s runline odds sit at -120 for picking the Royals +1.5 runs and +100 for the Twins -1.5.
The Twins are 47-39 against the spread (ATS), but only 39-48 straight up (SU). They’ve lost 11.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 4.8 units (ATS). Minnesota has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, have gone 25-64 SU this year and are 39-49 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 27.7 units for moneyline bettors and 17.4 units ATS. Kansas City’s covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Twins games have an over/under record of 40-43-3 so far in 2018. The Royals have been a good under bet with a total record of 35-49-4.
Danny Duffy will get the start for the visiting Royals. The left-handed Duffy is 4-8 with a 5.19 ERA and 86 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA against Minnesota this year.
The Twins will turn to righty Jose Berrios (8-7, 3.54 ERA), who has 114 strikeouts and 26 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.00. Berrios has yet to face the Royals this year, but he made two starts against them in 2017, posting a 0-0 record with a 5.25 ERA.
Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.6 runs per game and its starters own a 5.39 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 7.14 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.29, along with a K/9 of 6.91.
The Royals offense has slashed .238/.300/.364 on its way to 3.5 runs scored per game this season, including 3.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (0-5 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas have paced Kansas City’s hitters. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .303/.371/.429 with five home runs, 29 RBIs, 37 runs and 16 stolen bases, while Moustakas is hitting .254 with 17 homers, 56 RBIs and 39 runs scored.
For the home team, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.6 runs per game overall this season. Its starting pitching staff has a 4.27 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.43 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 9.3 K/9. In 30 games against divisional opponents, Twins starters have an ERA of 4.18 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.49.
Minnesota’s hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .269/.307/.461 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Outfielder Eddie Rosario and shortstop Eduardo Escobar have led the Twins’ batters this year. Rosario is hitting .301/.342/.536 with 18 home runs, 53 RBIs and 58 runs scored, and Escobar’s line sits at .270/.326/.524 with 14 homers, 52 RBIs and 40 runs.
The Royals have lost 29.5 units and are 21-36 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 23 of those games, compared to 30 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 6.0 units and are 14-10 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 10 of those games, compared to 13 that’ve gone under.
Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Notes
The over has hit in five of Kansas City’s last seven games.
The Royals have dropped 10 of their last 11 games SU.
Kansas City has posted 19.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 23.0 over its last five.
The Royals have hit six home runs in their last 10 games. The Twins have hit 13 over their last 10.
*****
