Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Free Pick 09/29/19

The Minnesota Twins will be taking the field against their divisional rival Kansas City Royals. Fox Sports Kansas City is in line to televise the matchup and the game gets underway at 3:15 p.m. ET.

Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals Odds

The Royals are 58-103 straight up (SU) and 75-85 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 23.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 23.3 units ATS. The Twins are 101-60 SU and have gone 90-70 ATS. They’ve accumulated 22.9 units for moneyline bettors and 13.5 units ATS.

Kansas City games have an over/under record of 80-72-8 in 2019. The Twins have also been a decent over bet with a total record of 81-74-5.

Southpaw Martin Perez is getting the nod for the visiting Twins. Perez is 10-7 with a 5.13 ERA and 130 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with 13 strikeouts and an 8.53 ERA against Kansas City this year (four starts).

The Royals will put the ball in the right hand of Jorge Lopez (4-9, 6.35 ERA), who has 106 strikeouts and 42 walks as well as a 1.50 WHIP. Lopez is 1-1 with five strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA in one start against Minnesota this year.

Minnesota’s pitching staff allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.18 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 8.54 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.16, along with a WHIP of 1.29 and a K-per-9 of 9.73.

Twins hitters have slashed .270/.340/.494 on their way to 5.8 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (5-0 SU).

Minnesota’s offensive production has been sparked by shortstop Jorge Polanco and outfielder Eddie Rosario. Polanco is slashing .296/.357/.486 with 22 home runs, 79 RBIs and 107 runs scored, while Rosario is hitting .276 with 32 homers, 109 RBIs and 91 runs scored.

In the home-team dugout, Kansas City’s pitching staff has allowed 5.4 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starters have an ERA of 5.29, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 5.09 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 8.6 K/9. In 75 games against AL Central opponents, Royals starters have an ERA of 4.92 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.71.

Kansas City’s offense is putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.8 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .276/.341/.442 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.

The Royals’ hitters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and right fielder Jorge Soler. Merrifield is slashing .303/.349/.464 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, 105 runs and 20 stolen bases, and Soler’s line is .265/.354/.566 with 47 homers, 116 RBIs and 94 runs.

Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals Free Prediction

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