Royals vs. Twins Pick
Can the Minnesota Twins fend off the Kansas City Royals when the two open a weekend series tonight at 8:10PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Twins are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -120 to win. The Royals are listed with a money line of +100 to prevail, while the over/under total for the game is listed at 8 runs. The Twins have won all five meetings with the Royals this season, including three games at home.
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Today’s pitching matchup has Nate Karns (2-2, 4.46 ERA) on the mound to face Hector Santiago (4-2, 3.80) of the Twins. Santiago has had a good season, but coming off a 2.2-inning start where he allowed seven hits and six earned runs. He has now given up 19 earned runs over 45 innings. His WHIP on the season is 1.29. Karns has had a pretty good month, cutting his ERA down by nearly 2. He has allowed 20 earned runs this season and has 48 strikeouts over 40.1 innings of work. His WHIP this season is 1.21.
Kansas City avoided being swept at home by the Yankees thanks to a 5-1 win on Thursday. KC is now 17-23 overall and 5-12 on the road. The Royals are averaging just 3.26 runs per game while allowing 4.44. Mike Moustakas has 10 home runs and 22 RBI to lead KC this season while Salvador Perez has eight homers and 23 RBI.
Minnesota had a rare shutout of the Rockies on Thursday, but split a doubleheader. The Twins are now 20-17 overall and 9-12 at home. Minnesota is averaging 4.51 runs per game while allowing 4.71. Miguel Sano has been leading the team this season with 10 home runs and 30 RBI while batting .293. Brian Dozier has added five homers and 13 RBI in 2017.
The Twins haven’t had an issues beating the Royals this season and I don’t see that changing tonight. Minnesota has the better pitcher of the two and the much better lineup. The Royals just can’t produce runs consistently. Minnesota is averaging more than a run per game more than Kansas City. Look for the Twins to pick up the win tonight.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: MINNESOTA TWINS -120