Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Free Pick 09/27/19

Jorge Polanco and the surging Minnesota Twins will head south to Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium to play their divisional rival Kansas City Royals. Fox Sports Kansas City will televise the matchup and the game will get going at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Odds

Oddsmakers are listing Kansas City (+180) as the underdog to Minnesota (-190). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -115 for over 10 runs and -105 for under 10. There’s a runline of Twins -1.5 (-135) and Royals +1.5 (+115) for this matchup.

The Royals are 58-101 straight up (SU) and 75-84 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 22.0 units for moneyline bettors and 22.3 units ATS. The Twins have gone 99-60 SU this year and are 88-70 against the spread. They’re up 20.9 units for moneyline gamblers and 11.3 units ATS.

Kansas City games have had an over/under record of 80-71-8 in 2019. Minnesota has also been a decent over bet with a total record of 80-73-5.

Jose Berrios is getting the start for the visiting Twins. The right-handed Berrios is 13-8 with a 3.70 ERA and 186 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with 12 strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA against Kansas City this year (three starts).

The Royals will put the ball in the left hand of Eric Skoglund (0-2, 7.50 ERA), who has two punchouts and eight walks as well as a 1.61 WHIP. Skoglund is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in one start against Minnesota this year.

Kansas City’s pitching staff has given up 5.4 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The team’s starters have a 5.26 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.13 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 8.7 K/9. In 73 divisional games, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.84 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.80.

The Kansas City offense has put up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.9 per game against divisional foes and 6.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .306/.375/.461 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.

The Royals’ batters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and outfielder Jorge Soler. Merrifield is hitting .299/.346/.458 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, 103 runs and 19 stolen bases, and Soler’s line is .262/.352/.555 with 45 homers, 112 RBIs and 92 runs.

For the visitors, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 8.51 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.18, along with a WHIP of 1.29 and a K/9 of 9.67.

The Twins offense has slashed .270/.340/.494 on its way to 5.8 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 7.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).

Shortstop Jorge Polanco and left fielder Eddie Rosario continue to lead Minnesota’s offense. Polanco is hitting .297/.359/.489 with 22 home runs, 78 RBIs and 107 runs scored, while Rosario (.278/.302/.505) has produced 32 homers, 108 RBIs and 91 runs scored.

Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Free MLB Pick

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