Minnesota Twins (22-16) vs. Kansas City Royals (14-23)
May 21, 2022 7:10 pm EDT
The Line: Kansas City Royals +120 / Minnesota Twins -141; Over/Under: +7
(Get latest betting odds)
The Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals meet in an AL Central division matchup in MLB action from Kauffman Stadium on Saturday night.
The Minnesota Twins will be looking to keep the ball rolling after a solid all-around showing in Friday’s matchup. Luis Arraez has 31 hits including 5 doubles while also posting a .323 batting average. Byron Buxton also has 23 hits with a team-high 11 home runs and 20 RBIs and Trevor Larnach has 9 doubles and Gary Sanchez has 11 doubles to lead the Twins in two-baggers this season. Jorge Polanco has a team-high 32 hits and 22 RBIs and Max Kepler has 16 RBIs as well on the year, while Carlos Correa’s also added 26 hits. Joe Ryan will start here and is 4-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 36 strikeouts this season.
The Kansas City Royals will try to get out to a faster start after a slow time getting going in Friday’s matchup. Andrew Benintendi leads the Royals with 41 hits along with a .306 batting average and a team-high 16 RBIs while Salvador Perez has a team-high 6 home runs and 16 RBIs of his own. Perez has 8 doubles and Hunter Dozier has 7 doubles as well as a pair of triples and Bobby Witt Jr. has 9 doubles as well on the year. Witt Jr. and Benintendi each have a pair of triples as well on the year while Whit Merrifield has also contributed 16 RBIs this season. Brad Keller will start here and is 1-3 with a 2.89 ERA and 25 strikeouts this season.
Minnesota is 18-8 in their last 26 games overall and 20-8 in their last 28 games as a favorite while the under is 3-1-1 in their last 5 games overall. Kansas City is 3-8 in their last 11 home games and 8-20 in their last 20 games as an underdog while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
I get the case to be made for either side in this game, but I’m looking at the under here. Joe Ryan and Brad Keller have both pitched really well this year, especially Ryan, who has looked like a bright young piece for the Twins’ future. Keller hasn’t had a ton of luck, but he has a lot of solid stuff that can keep the Royals in games. I’ll side with the under as I could see a 3-2 type of game in this one.
