Yordano Ventura (13-10, 4.35 ERA) and the Kansas City Royals (1-1) take on Ervin Santana (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and the Minnesota Twins (0-3) in the first of a three-game division series at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Action begins at 8:15 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 8 and will air on FSKC and FSN.
Ventura takes the mound after pitching 184.1 innings last year, closing out the season with a 13-10 record, 4.35 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 178 strikeouts. Alcides Escobar (.250 ) went 1 for 4 Tuesday. The Twins were unsuccessful against the Orioles 3-2 the last time Santana pitched. He went 2.0 innings, surrendering zero runs, striking out three and walking two. Joe Mauer (.364 ) has been hitting the ball well to start the season for the Twins, going 2 for 4 yesterday with one run, one home run, and one RBI.
Oddsmakers have deemed this game an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable. They have been a terror on the base paths, ranking third in all of baseball with two steals. As for the Kansas City defense and pitching staff, it’s been a struggle for opposing teams to score runs against the Royals. The 0.0 runs that Kansas City’s pitchers allow per game makes them the fifth-ranked staff in the AL. The Royals are the fifth-best team in the AL at limiting hits to their opponents, allowing only 6.5 hits per game so far this season.
The Twins are known for their bats, hitting a league-leading zero extra base hits. The Twins average just 11.7 strikeouts per game, one of the lowest marks in the AL.
Predictions: SU Winner – MIN
Notes
The Royals are coming off of a hot pitching game where they recorded nine strikeouts. The Twins have a record of 0-3 when they are struck out that many times or more.
When they outhit their opponents, the Twins are 0-1. The Royals have a 1-0 record when outhitting opponents.
Both falling near the bottom of the league based on total runs this season, Kansas City ranks 27th with four runs and Minnesota is 25th with six.
Kansas City and Minnesota both rank near the bottom of the league in walks. Kansas City sits at 28th with three this season and Minnesota ranks 24th with six.
The Twins are 0-2 when they allow at least one home run. The Royals perform similarly when they allow one or more homers with a 0-1 record.
