The Minnesota Twins are preparing to take on their AL Central rival Kansas City Royals in a Sunday showdown. The game gets underway 3:15 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Kansas City will be televising the action.
Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
The Twins have gone 101-60 SU this year and are 90-70 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 22.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 13.5 units ATS. The Royals, on the other hand, are 58-103 SU and 75-85 ATS. They’ve lost 23.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 23.3 units ATS.
Kansas City games have an over/under record of 80-72-8 in 2019. Twins games have gone over 81 times, gone under 74 times and pushed on five occasions.
Southpaw Martin Perez is the probable starter for the visiting Twins. Perez is 10-7 with a 5.13 ERA and 130 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with 13 strikeouts and an 8.53 ERA against Kansas City this year (four starts).
The Royals are putting the ball in the hands of righty Jorge Lopez (4-9, 6.35 ERA), who has 106 strikeouts and 42 walks, along with a 1.50 WHIP. Lopez is 1-1 with five strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA in one start against Minnesota this year.
Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.4 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.29, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 5.09 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 8.6 K/9. In 75 games against divisional opponents, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.92 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.71.
The Kansas City hitters have produced 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.8 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .276/.341/.442 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Jorge Soler have led the Royals’ batters this year. Merrifield is hitting .303/.349/.464 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, 105 runs and 20 steals, while Soler’s line is .265/.354/.566 with 47 homers, 116 RBIs and 94 runs.
For the visiting squad, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.18 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 8.54 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.16, along with a WHIP of 1.29.
Twins hitters have slashed .270/.340/.494 on their way to 5.8 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (5-0 SU).
Shortstop Jorge Polanco and outfielder Eddie Rosario have led Minnesota’s hitters. Polanco is hitting .296/.357/.486 with 22 home runs, 79 RBIs and 107 runs scored. Rosario (.276/.300/.500) is up to 32 homers, 109 RBIs and 91 runs scored.
Twins at Royals Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Royals, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Minnesota has recorded 18 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Kansas City has 19 XBH over its last five.
- The Twins have a total OPS of .834 this season and an OPS of .818 against right-handed pitchers. The Royals’ OPS stands at .711 overall and .716 versus righties.
- The Twins have won eight of their last nine games SU while the Royals have dropped four of their last five.
- Kansas City has recorded 22.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 22.8 over its last five.
- The Twins have hit 15 home runs in their last 10 games. The Royals have hit five over their last 10.
