The Minnesota Twins will be taking on their division rival Kansas City Royals at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to broadcast the matchup and the game is scheduled to get going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Odds
Minnesota (-115) is favored against Kansas City (+105) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this night game at 8.5 runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the most recent runline odds standing at Twins -1.5 runs (+130) and Royals +1.5 runs (-150).
The Twins are 22-27 SU and have gone 28-20 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 7.0 units for moneyline bettors, despite having gained 6.0 units ATS. The Royals, on the other hand, are 18-36 SU and 25-28 ATS. The teams lost 11.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 7.7 units ATS.
Royals games have had an over/under record of 20-30-3 thus far in 2018. Minnesota has an over/under record of 22-25-1.
Right-hander Kyle Gibson is projected to start for the visiting Twins. Gibson is 1-3 with a 4.02 ERA and 58 strikeouts. He has yet to face Kansas City this year, but he made four starts against the Royals in 2017, compiling a 1-0 record against them with a 3.09 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
The Royals are handing the ball to lefty Danny Duffy (2-6, 6.14 ERA), who has 50 strikeouts and 27 walks to his name, as well as a 1.60 WHIP. Duffy only made one start against the Twins in 2017 (0-0, 1.50 ERA and eight strikeouts across six innings).
Kansas City’s pitchers have yielded 5.6 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The clubs starters have a 5.33 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.36 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 6.8 K/9. In 24 divisional games, Royals starters have an ERA of 5.28 and the bullpens ERA is 5.06.
Kansas City’s hitters have put up 4.0 runs per contest, including 3.7 per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over their last five. The teams hit .268/.330/.410 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Royals hitters have been led by left fielder Jon Jay and second baseman Whit Merrifield. Jay is slashing .305/.361/.362 with 64 hits, 14 RBIs and 23 runs scored, and Merrifield’s line is .288/.363/.420 with four homers, 22 RBIs, 27 runs and 12 stolen bases.
For the visitors, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 8.91 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.51, along with a K/9 of 9.27.
Twins hitters have slashed .238/.312/.392 on their way to 4.1 runs scored per game this season, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.8 per game over the teams last five contests (1-4 SU).
Left fielder Eddie Rosario and second baseman Brian Dozier have led Minnesota’s offense. Rosario is slashing .297/.322/.526 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs, 30 runs and five steals, while Dozier (.243/.309/.406) has produced seven homers, 20 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .290/.328/.507, Rosario didn’t seem to enjoy hitting against lefty pitching on the road last season, putting up a slash line of .267/.286/.372 across 91 such plate appearances.
The Twins have lost 0.6 units and are 9-4 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in five of those games, compared to eight that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 14.5 units and are 13-20 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 12 of those games, compared to 18 which went under the total.
Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in seven of Minnesota’s last seven games.
- Kansas City has recorded 20.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 24.6 over its last five.
- The Twins have hit four home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit eight over their last 10.
