The Kansas City Royals will be taking on their divisional rival Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Fox Sports Kansas City will showcase the action and the game is slated to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins Odds
Vegas is listing Minnesota (-215) as the favorite over Kansas City (+195). The total sits at 9 runs and bettors can take the over or the under for -110. The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -110 for taking the Royals +1.5 runs and -110 for the Twins -1.5.
The Royals are 46-94 SU and are 68-71 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 27.9 units for moneyline gamblers and 11.0 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Twins, on the other hand, are 64-76 SU and 70-69 ATS. The team has lost 14.2 units for moneyline bettors and 4.1 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Minnesota games have an over/under record of 67-69-3 in 2018. The Royals have been a decent under bet with a total record of 60-69-10.
Right-hander Jorge Lopez is projected to start for the visiting Royals. Lopez is 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA and 33 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Twins this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Twins are sending righty Jose Berrios (11-10, 3.92 ERA) to the mound. Berrios has 171 strikeouts and 49 walks to his name, as well as a 1.15 WHIP. Berrios is 2-0 with 14 strikeouts and a 1.93 ERA over two starts against Kansas City this year.
Kansas City’s pitchers have 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 managed an ERA of 5.17, along with a K-per-9 of 7.32.
The Royals offense has slashed .244/.307/.387 on its 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 outings (2-3 SU).
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez continue to lead Kansas City’s offense. The speedy Merrifield is slashing .303/.368/.435 with 11 home runs, 51 RBIs, 70 runs and 30 steals, while Perez (.235/.273/.442) is up to 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 club’s starting pitching staff has a 4.71 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.55 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 60 games against divisional opponents, Twins starters have an ERA of 4.86 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.05.
The Minnesota hitters are putting up 4.4 runs per outing, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .234/.319/.347 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Twins’ batters have been led by left fielder Eddie Rosario and first baseman Joe Mauer. Rosario is slashing .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.
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 against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 7.0 units and are 50-48 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 49 of those games, compared to 47 that went under.
Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Kansas City has logged 19 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Minnesota has nine XBH over its last five.
- Minnesota has recorded 20.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.2 over its last five.
- The Royals have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games. The Twins have hit 12 over their last 10.
