Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins Betting Pick 09/21/19

The Kansas City Royals will be taking on their divisional nemesis Minnesota Twins. Fox Sports Kansas City will broadcast the matchup. The game is slated to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.

Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins Odds

Oddsmakers are listing Minnesota (-330) as the favorite over Kansas City (+265). The game’s total is sitting at 10 runs and bettors can wager on the over for -120 and the under for an even +100. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds sitting at +135 for the Royals +1.5 runs and -155 for the Twins -1.5 runs.

The Twins are 95-59 straight up (SU) and 85-68 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 20.3 units for moneyline bettors and 11.2 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Royals, on the other hand, have gone 56-99 SU this year and are 72-82 against the spread. They’re down 23.1 units for moneyline gamblers and 23.4 units ATS. Kansas City is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.

Twins games have an over/under record of 78-70-5 in 2019. The Royals have also been a decent over bet with a total record of 76-70-8.

Glenn Sparkman will get the start for the visiting Royals. The right-handed Sparkman is 4-11 with a 6.02 ERA and 73 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with 10 strikeouts and a 5.94 ERA against Minnesota this year (three starts).

The Twins will put the ball in the right hand of Jose Berrios (13-8, 3.58 ERA, 1.21 WHIP), who has 181 strikeouts and 48 walks. Berrios is 0-0 with seven strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA across two starts against Kansas City this year.

Kansas City’s pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.18 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 7.21 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.06, along with a K/9 of 8.65.

Royals hitters have slashed .244/.309/.397 on their way to 4.2 runs scored per game this year, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).

Kansas City’s offense has been powered by second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Jorge Soler, who’ve collectively belted 61 home runs. Merrifield is slashing .301/.348/.462 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, 100 runs and 18 stolen bases, while Soler is hitting .257 with 45 homers, 110 RBIs and 88 runs scored.

In the other dugout, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.7 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.17, a WHIP of 1.30 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.5. The bullpen has a 4.15 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. In 68 games against divisional opponents, Twins starters have an ERA of 4.11 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.83.

The Minnesota offense is putting up 5.8 runs per contest, including 5.7 per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .257/.344/.449 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.

Shortstop Jorge Polanco and outfielder Eddie Rosario have led the Twins’ hitters this year. Polanco is hitting .299/.361/.492 with 22 home runs, 78 RBIs and 102 runs scored, while Rosario’s line is .277/.300/.498 with 31 homers, 101 RBIs and 89 runs.

The Royals have lost 16.9 units and are 53-60 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 56 of those games, compared to 53 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Twins have netted 22.2 units and are 65-52 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 56 of those games, compared to 58 that went under the total.

Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins Free MLB Pick

Predictions:SU Winner – Twins, ATS Winner – Royals, O/U – OVER