Saturday, April 12, 2:10 PM on FSKC, FSN

Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Kansas City - Shields, J (0-1) vs. Minnesota - Nolasco, R (0-1)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

On Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Royals will travel to Minnesota to take on the Twins at Target Field. The first pitch will be at 2:10 p.m. and will feature the pitching matchup of James Shields vs. Ricky Nolasco.

The former ace of the Tampa Bay Rays is in his second season with the Kansas City Royals and is looking to improve on his 13-9 mark from a year ago. He is 0-1 this season, but not because he pitched poorly. He hasn’t gotten the run support he needs, throwing 13 1/3 innings with 4 earned runs allowed on 10 hits and 1 walk with 9 strikeouts. In his career against current members of the Twins, Shields has allowed 52 hits in 170 at-bats for a .306 average. He has given up 5 home runs, including 2 to Eduardo Nunez. Jason Kubel, Joe Mauer, Brian Dozier and Josh Willingham all have averages above .300 against him.

Opposing Shields will be the former Miami Marlin Nolasco. He is in his first season with the Twins and is off to a poor start, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. He has an 89-76 career record and doesn’t have a lot of experience against the current Kansas City roster. Norichika Aoki (3-for-6). Alcides Escobar (0-for-3), Omar Infante (3-for-7), and Justin Maxwell (0-for-1) are the only players to have faced Nolasco in the past.

Kansas City Betting Trends

Kansas City is 2-5-1 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Kansas City is +0.2

Minnesota Betting Trends

Minnesota is 8-1-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Minnesota is -1.4

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City

04/09/14 P Francisley Bueno Finger 15-day DL (4/7)
04/09/14 P Tim Collins Elbow 15-day DL (4/7)
04/08/14 2B Omar Infante Jaw out indefinitely
03/30/14 P Luke Hochevar Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)

Minnesota

04/11/14 LF Josh Willingham Wrist questionable
04/09/14 RF Oswaldo Arcia Wrist 15-day DL (4/5)
04/07/14 SS Jason Bartlett Ankle 15-day DL (4/7)

Josh's Pick: Take Minnesota

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