The Kansas City Royals are set to play their AL Central foe Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the matchup and the game is scheduled to get going at 1:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
Minnesota (-205) is favored over Kansas City (+187) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 9.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at -115 for the over and -105 for the under. Runline odds sit at -115 for betting the Royals +1.5 runs and -105 for the Twins -1.5.
The Royals have gone just 26-65 SU this year and are 39-51 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 29.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 19.5 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread only once over its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. The Twins, on the other hand, are 40-49 SU and 49-39 ATS. The team has lost 9.2 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 7.3 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Twins games have an over/under record of 41-44-3 so far in 2018. Kansas City has been a decent under bet with a total record of 36-50-4.
Right-hander Burch Smith will get the nod for Kansas City. Smith is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA and 39 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with three strikeouts and a 21.00 ERA against Minnesota this year.
The Twins are putting the ball in the right hand of Lance Lynn (6-7, 5.21 ERA), who has 85 punchouts and 52 walks as well as a 1.66 WHIP. Lynn is 1-0 with five strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA in one start against Kansas City this year.
As a unit, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.6 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have an ERA of 4.31, a WHIP of 1.34 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.7. The bullpen has a 4.41 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 9.3 K/9. In 32 games against AL Central foes, Twins starters have an ERA of 4.29 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.59.
The Minnesota hitters have produced 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .294/.344/.453 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Outfielder Eddie Rosario and shortstop Eduardo Escobar have led the Twins’ offense this year. Rosario is slashing .300/.341/.530 with 18 home runs, 54 RBIs and 58 runs scored, while Escobar’s line is .275/.330/.523 with 14 homers, 54 RBIs and 40 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starters own a 5.33 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 7.23 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.30, along with a WHIP of 1.46 and a K-per-9 of 6.88.
The Royals offense has slashed .240/.302/.367 on its way to 3.5 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Kansas City’s hitters have been paced by second baseman Whit Merrifield and third baseman Mike Moustakas. The speedy Merrifield is hitting .306/.375/.435 with five home runs, 29 RBIs, 39 runs and 16 stolen bases. Moustakas is slashing .251/.306/.460 with 17 homers, 56 RBIs and 39 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 31.5 units and are 21-38 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 24 of those games, compared to 31 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 4.2 units and are 34-29 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 31 of those games, compared to 30 that’ve cashed the under.
Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in five of Minnesota’s last seven games.
Kansas City has recorded 21.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 24.6 over its last five.
The Royals have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including four over their last five.
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