Sunday, October 4, 2015

Target Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Johnny Cueto (3-7) vs. Ricky Nolasco (5-1)

The Minnesota Twins host the Kansas City Royals at Target Field on Sunday. The probable starters are Johnny Cueto for the Royals and Ricky Nolasco 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 73-73 over/under record and a 87-73 run line mark, meaning they cover 55% of the time. The Twins have a 72-76 over/under record and a 94-66 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 58% of the time.

The Royals head into this matchup with a 93-67 record, including 42-37 on the road. Johnny Cueto has a 3-7 record on the season, an earned run average of 4.95 and a 1.41 WHIP. In his starts, the Royals are 3-9 over his 76.1 innings pitched this season while giving up 95 hits during those innings. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 9-3. The team is averaging 4.6 runs when he starts. The bullpen has an earned run average of 2.74 and they have given up 418 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .212 against the Royals bullpen while walking 189 times and striking out 499 times. Kansas City is averaging 7.14 strikeouts per game while getting 8.53 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 11th in baseball in team earned run average at 3.77.

Kansas City is batting .269 as a team, which is good for 3rd in the league and hitting .259 away from home. The Royals hold a .412 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .321 which is good for 13th in baseball. Eric Hosmer leads the team in hits with 177 while the team ranks 3rd in baseball with 9.24 hits per game.

With a 46-33 home record, Minnesota will hope to improve on their 83-77 overall mark. Ricky Nolasco has a record of 5-1 while sporting an earned run average of 5.97 on the year with a 1.64 WHIP. In his starts, the Twins are 7-3 and he has allowed 46 hits over 34.2 innings pitched this season. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 5-5. The team is averaging 4.1 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.98 and they have given up 495 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .249 against the Twins bullpen while walking 160 times and striking out 389 times. Minnesota is averaging 6.53 strikeouts per game while getting 9.39 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 19th in the league in team earned run average at 4.07.

They are batting .247 as a team, which is good for 26th in the league and hitting .265 at home. The Twins hold a .401 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .305 which is good for 27th in baseball. Joe Mauer leads the team in hits with 155 while the team ranks 26th in baseball with 8.35 hits a game.

Kansas City has a team fielding percentage of .985 after having committed 87 errors with 1,592 assists and 4,302 put outs for the season. The Twins have committed 83 errors on the season with 1,614 assists and 4,275 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .986 on the year.

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

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

The Kansas City Royals are 87-73 against the run line so far this season

Minnesota Twins Betting Trends

The Minnesota Twins are 72-76 against the over/under so far this season

The Minnesota Twins are 94-66 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Kansas City Royals

10/03/15 DH Kendrys Morales Quad "?" Sunday 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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