Saturday, October 3, 2015

Target Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Yordano Ventura (12-8) vs. Tommy Milone (9-5)

The Minnesota Twins welcome the Kansas City Royals to Target Field on Saturday. The probable starters are Yordano Ventura for the Royals and Tommy Milone for the Twins. The opening line for this matchup has Kansas City at -116 and Minnesota at +106. The over/under was set at 8. The Royals have a 73-72 over/under record and a 86-73 run line mark, meaning they cover 54% of the time. The Twins are 94-65 against the run line and have a 72-75 over/under record. They cover the spread 59% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 92-67 record, including 41-37 on the road. Yordano Ventura has a 12-8 record on the season, an earned run average of 4.20 and a 1.31 WHIP. He's pitched 156.1 innings thus far while surrendering 150 hits over that time and when he starts, the Royals are 15-12. The Royals are also 11-12 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 5 runs when he starts. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 2.76 and they've given up 414 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .211 against the bullpen while being struck out 492 times and walking 188 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.55 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.14 batters per nine. They are 11th in the league in team earned run average at 3.79.

Kansas City is batting .269 as a team, which is good for 2nd in the league and hitting .259 away from home. Ranked at 13th in the league in on-base percentage, the Royals sit at .321 and they hold a .413 team slugging percentage. They rank 3rd in baseball with 9.25 hits per game and Eric Hosmer leads the team with 176.

With a 46-32 home record, Minnesota will hope to improve on their 83-76 overall mark. Tommy Milone has a record of 9-5 while sporting an earned run average of 4.04 on the year with a 1.27 WHIP. He's pitched 122.2 innings thus far while surrendering 122 hits over that time in which the Twins are 11-11. The Twins are also 10-9 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 4.6 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 3.98 and they have given up 489 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .249 against the Twins bullpen while being struck out 386 times and walking 157 times this season. As a team, Minnesota has allowed 9.41 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.55 batters per nine. They are 19th in the league in team earned run average at 4.08.

They are batting .248 as a team, which is good for 25th in the league and hitting .266 at home. Ranked at 27th in the league in on-base percentage, the Twins sit at .306 and they hold a .403 team slugging percentage. They rank 25th in baseball with 8.36 hits per game and Joe Mauer leads the team with 155.

The Royals have committed 87 errors and have combined for 1,581 assists and 4,275 put outs leading to a .985 team fielding percentage. For the home team, they hold a .987 team fielding percentage while committing 80 errors, accumulating 1,605 assists and compiling 4,248 put outs.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 73-72 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 86-73 against the run line so far this season

Minnesota Twins Betting Trends

The Minnesota Twins are 72-75 against the over/under so far this season

The Minnesota Twins are 94-65 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

10/02/15 RF Alex Rios Back "?" Friday vs. Minnesota Twins
10/02/15 DH Kendrys Morales Quad "?" Friday vs. Minnesota Twins
10/02/15 C Salvador Perez Thumb "?" Friday vs. Minnesota Twins
10/02/15 P Wade Davis Back "?" Friday vs. Minnesota Twins
10/01/15 CF Lorenzo Cain Knee "?" Friday vs. Minnesota Twins
09/24/15 P Greg Holland Elbow out for season
09/19/15 2B Omar Infante Oblique out indefinitely
07/22/15 P Jason Vargas Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/22); out for season
05/17/15 P Brian Flynn Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/16)
04/06/15 P Tim Collins Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/6)

Minnesota Twins

09/29/15 CF Jordan Schafer Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/16)

Josh's Pick: Take the Royals

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