The Minnesota Twins will be squaring off against their division rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City will be airing the matchup and the game gets underway at 2:15 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers have put matching -105 moneyline odds on each team. The total is sitting at 8.5 runs and bettors can take the over for -120 or the under for an even +100. The game’s runline odds stand at +140 for betting the Twins -1.5 runs and -160 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are 52-96 straight up (SU) and 72-75 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 24.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 12.1 units (ATS). The Twins are 67-81 SU and have gone 74-73 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 14.1 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 3.3 units ATS.
Kansas City games have had an over/under record of 63-73-11 in 2018. The Twins have an over/under record of 72-72-3.
Right-hander Kyle Gibson is projected to start for the visiting Twins. Gibson is 7-13 with a 3.67 ERA and 163 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with 13 strikeouts and a 2.92 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals will send righty Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.28 ERA) to the mound. Junis has 150 strikeouts and 40 walks to his name, as well as a 1.23 WHIP. Junis is 0-1 with 13 strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA over two starts against Minnesota this year.
Minnesota’s pitching staff allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 4.59 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.25 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.76, along with a K/9 of 9.03.
The Twins offense has slashed .245/.315/.400 on its way to 4.4 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 contests (2-3 SU).
Minnesota’s hitters have been paced by left fielder Eddie Rosario and first baseman Joe Mauer, who have combined to drive in 120 runs. Rosario is hitting .286/.322/.475 with 23 home runs, 76 RBIs and 85 runs scored. Mauer (.275/.346/.378) has produced six homers, 44 RBIs and 52 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.2 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 4.98, a WHIP of 1.42 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.3. The bullpen has a 5.06 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 67 games against divisional foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.79 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.00.
The Kansas City offense has produced 3.9 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 6.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .297/.386/.477 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Alex Gordon have led the charge for the Royals’ hitters this year. Merrifield is slashing .303/.368/.438 with 12 home runs, 56 RBIs, 81 runs and 36 stolen bases, and Gordon’s line sits at .242/.326/.362 with 11 homers, 47 RBIs and 51 runs.
The Twins have lost 6.0 units and are 54-51 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 53 of those games, as opposed to 50 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 19.3 units and are 48-54 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 47 of those games, as opposed to 47 that’ve gone under.
Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in only two of Kansas City’s last seven games.
- The Royals have won five of their last six games SU.
- Kansas City has posted 21.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 26.8 over its last five.
- The Twins have hit five home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit eight over their last 10.
