The Minnesota Twins will play host to their division rival Kansas City Royals at Target Field. The action will begin at 2:10 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Kansas City to catch the game.
Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
Minnesota (receiving -210 odds) is the enormous favorite against Kansas City and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this game at 10.5 runs (-115 for the under and -105 for the over). The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -115 for taking the Royals +1.5 runs and -105 for the Twins -1.5.
The Twins are 68-42 straight up (SU) and 59-50 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 15.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.4 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total went over in four of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, have gone 40-72 SU this year and are 53-58 ATS. In total, the club has lost 18.3 units for moneyline bettors and 16.6 units ATS. Kansas City has covered the spread just once in its last seven games and the over has hit in six of those seven.
Minnesota games have had an over/under record of 55-49-5 in 2019. The Royals have an over/under record of 54-49-8.
Brad Keller is getting the nod for the Royals. The right-handed Keller is 7-10 with a 4.01 ERA and 99 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with 10 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA against Minnesota this year (two starts).
The Twins are putting the ball in the hands of righty Jake Odorizzi (12-5, 3.73 ERA), who’s got 113 punchouts and 37 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.19. Odorizzi is 1-1 with nine strikeouts and a 7.20 ERA across two starts against Kansas City this year.
Minnesota’s pitching staff has given up 4.6 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.81, a WHIP of 1.21 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.3. The bullpen has a 4.47 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 9.4 K/9. In 39 divisional games, Twins starters have an ERA of 3.57 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.76.
The Minnesota offense is putting up 5.8 runs per outing, including 5.7 per game against divisional foes and 7.0 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .251/.332/.509 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Twins’ offense has been led by shortstop Jorge Polanco and right fielder Max Kepler. Polanco is hitting .299/.359/.506 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and 70 runs scored, while Kepler is hitting .268 with 30 homers, 76 RBIs and 75 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.27 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.38 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.76, along with a WHIP of 1.43 and a K-per-9 of 8.50.
The Royals offense has slashed .248/.313/.401 on its way to 4.3 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (0-5 SU).
Kansas City’s offense has been fueled by second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Alex Gordon. Merrifield is slashing .301/.355/.480 with 12 home runs, 55 RBIs, 76 runs and 16 steals, while Gordon is hitting .276/.349/.431 with 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 61 runs scored.
The Royals have lost 15.0 units and are 39-42 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 41 of those games, as opposed to 36 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Twins have netted 18.1 units and are 45-39 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 41 of those games, compared to 40 that went under.
Royals at Twins Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has cashed in three of Minnesota’s last seven games.
- The Royals have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
- The Royals have an OPS of .714 this season and an OPS of .725 when facing right-handed pitchers. The Twins’ OPS sits at .841 overall and .831 versus righties.
- Kansas City has posted 20.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 19.2 over its last five.
- The Royals have lost eight of their last nine games SU while the Twins have taken five of their last six.
