The ice-cold Minnesota Twins will look to avoid losing their sixth consecutive game as they play host to the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast the action and the game will get going at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
Vegas is listing Minnesota (-140) as the favorite over Kansas City (+130). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -110 for over 9.5 runs and -110 for under 9.5. Gamblers can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at Royals +1.5 runs (-170) and Twins -1.5 runs (+150).
The Royals are 46-93 SU and are 68-71 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 27.9 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 11.0 units ATS. The Twins, on the other hand, are 63-76 SU and 70-69 ATS. The team’s lost 14.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.1 units ATS.
Minnesota games have a 67-69-3 over/under record in 2018. Kansas City has been a decent under bet with a total record of 60-69-10.
Heath Fillmyer will get the nod for Kansas City. Fillmyer (2-1, 4.01 ERA) has racked up 36 punchouts in 58.1 innings so far. He’s 0-0 with three strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA against Minnesota this year.
The Twins will put the ball in the left hand of Stephen Gonsalves (0-2, 9.90 ERA), who has five strikeouts and 10 walks this season as well as a 2.90 WHIP. Gonsalves hasn’t faced the Royals yet this year and did not record any MLB pitching stats last season.
Minnesota’s pitchers have given up 4.9 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 4.66, a WHIP of 1.40 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.2. The bullpen has a 4.59 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 9.2 K/9. In 59 games against divisional opponents, Twins starters have an ERA of 4.76 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.11.
The Minnesota offense is putting up 4.4 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 2.4 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .213/.283/.341 over its last five contests and is 0-5 SU during that span.
The Twins’ offense has been led by Eddie Rosario, who is hitting .292/.329/.484 with 22 home runs, 74 RBIs and 83 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Kansas City’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.08 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.42 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.17, along with a K/9 of 7.37.
The Royals offense has slashed .244/.306/.386 on its way to 3.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Kansas City’s offense has been paced by Whit Merrifield. Merrifield is slashing .304/.369/.437 with 11 home runs, 51 RBIs, 69 runs and 30 stolen bases.
The Royals just dropped a 3-1 game to the Indians, while the Twins are coming off of a 9-1 loss against the Astros.
Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER
