The Minnesota Twins are set to square off against their divisional rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The game gets underway 8:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast the matchup.
Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Minnesota (-130) as the favorite over Kansas City (+120). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can take the over for -120 or the under for +100. The game’s most recent runline odds stand at +115 for taking the Twins -1.5 runs and -135 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are 50-96 straight up (SU) and 70-75 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 27.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 14.1 units (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Twins are 67-79 SU and have gone 74-71 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 11.7 units for moneyline gamblers and 1.3 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Royals games have an over/under record of 61-73-11 in 2018. Minnesota has an over/under record of 70-72-3.
Jose Berrios is getting the nod for Minnesota. The right-handed Berrios is 11-11 with a 3.83 ERA and 176 strikeouts. He’s 2-1 with 19 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA against Kansas City this year (three starts).
The Royals are putting the ball in the hands of righty Jorge Lopez (2-4, 3.72 ERA), who has 37 strikeouts and 22 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.28 WHIP. Lopez is 1-0 with four strikeouts and a 1.13 ERA in one start against Minnesota this year.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have given up 5.2 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.00, a WHIP of 1.42 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 5.11 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 7.4 K/9. In 65 divisional games, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.82 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.09.
Kansas City’s offense is putting up 3.8 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .219/.328/.388 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Royals’ batters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez. Merrifield is slashing .302/.367/.435 with 12 home runs, 54 RBIs, 78 runs and 36 steals, while Perez’s line is .235/.274/.446 with 25 homers, 70 RBIs and 46 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.59 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 8.19 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.63, along with a K-per-9 of 9.05.
Twins hitters have slashed .244/.315/.401 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this year, including 4.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Minnesota’s hitters have been paced by left fielder Eddie Rosario and first baseman Joe Mauer. Rosario is slashing .287/.323/.477 with 23 home runs, 76 RBIs and 85 runs scored. Mauer (.273/.344/.374) is up to six homers, 43 RBIs and 51 runs scored.
The Twins have lost 3.5 units and are 54-49 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 51 of those games, compared to 50 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 20.6 units and are 47-54 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 46 of those games, as opposed to 47 that’ve cashed the under.
Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The under has hit in five of Kansas City’s last seven games.
The Royals have won three of their last four games SU.
Minnesota fielders have committed four errors over their last five games, compared to zero errors for Kansas City over its last five.
The Twins have hit six home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit 11 over their last 10.
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