The Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins meet Saturday in MLB action from Target Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Twins vs Royals Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Kansas City Royals will send out Michael Wacha for the start here and Wacha is 3-4 with a 2.86 ERA and 43 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Twins, Wacha is 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA and 27 strikeouts. Zebby Matthews will get the start for the Twins here and is 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA and 5 strikeouts this season. In his career, Matthews is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 9 strikeouts against the Royals.
Kansas City Royals Recap
The Kansas City Royals come into this game looking to bounce back from their 3-1 loss at the hands of the Twins on Friday to fall to 28-24 on the year. After this series, the Royals will head home for a series against the Reds.
Royals Looking To Find Consistent Offense
Bobby Witt Jr. has a team-high 60 hits with 19 doubles and 16 stolen bases along with 3 triples, 5 home runs and 28 RBIs while Vinnie Pasquantino has 45 hits with 5 doubles, a triple, 8 home runs and 29 RBIs. Maikel Garcia’s added 56 hits with 13 doubles, 5 home runs and 22 RBIs and 10 stolen bases and Salvador Perez also has 3 home runs and 23 RBIs but also has the unfortunate distinction of leading the Royals with 45 strikeouts so far this season.
Why the Kansas City Royals will win
- The Royals have won six of their last seven games as underdogs following a loss.
- The Twins have lost three of their last four games as favorites against AL Central opponents following a home win.
- The Royals have covered the run line in each of their last nine games as underdogs after playing the previous day.
- The Twins have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last nine day games against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
Kansas City Royals Player Prop Facts
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded a Double in three of the Royals’ last four games against the Twins.
- Bobby Witt Jr. has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Royals’ last six games against AL Central opponents.
- Michael Wacha has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances against the Twins.
- Jonathan India has scored at least one run in five of his last six appearances in day games.
- Michael Wacha has recorded five or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances in day games against teams that held a winning record.
- Vinnie Pasquantino has recorded at least one Single in each of the Royals’ last six games.
- Salvador Perez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Royals’ last nine day games.
- MJ Melendez has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances with the Royals as road underdogs against the Twins.
- Bobby Witt Jr. ranks 3rd in the league in Steals (17) this season.
Minnesota Twins Recap
The Minnesota Twins come into this game looking to add on to their win over the Royals to kick off the series on Friday to improve to 28-22 on the year. After this series, Minnesota will take to the road for a series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Twins Win 9 Of Their Last 11 Games
Byron Buxton has 41 hits along with 5 doubles, a team-high 10 home runs and 27 RBIs with 8 stolen bases and 3 triples while Carlos Correa has 35 hits with 8 doubles and Willi Castro has 23 hits with 7 doubles as well. Harrison Bader’s added 4 home runs and 18 RBIs while Buxton’s contributed a team-high 56 strikeouts as well this season. Ty France has also added 43 hits, 8 doubles, 3 home runs and 24 RBIs and Trevor Larnach’s chipped in 44 hits with 7 home runs and 23 RBIs as well this season.
Why the Minnesota Twins will win
- The Twins have won each of their last eight home games after playing the previous day.
- The Royals have lost 19 of their last 22 games at Target Field.
- The Royals have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
- The Twins have covered the run line in seven of their last eight home games after playing the previous day.
Minnesota Twins Player Prop Facts
- Ty France has hit a home run in each of the Twins’ last three games against the Royals.
- Ty France has recorded at least one RBI in seven of his last eight home appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Harrison Bader has recorded at least one Single in each of his last six appearances against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Harrison Bader has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 14 appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Byron Buxton has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances against AL opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the last nine games between the Royals and Twins have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Six of the Royals’ last seven games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
Twins vs Royals Prediction
I’m backing the Royals here. I just don’t love what I’ve seen from Zebby Matthews so far and say what you want about Michael Wacha, he’s had decent numbers for much of the season and decent numbers in his career against the Twins. The Royals have started to utilize their ABs better in recent games, and I think the Royals even up the series at one win apiece here. Give me Kansas City in this one.