Saturday, August 20, 2016

Kauffman Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Hector Santiago vs. Ian Kennedy

The Minnesota Twins visit Kauffman Stadium on Saturday to play the Kansas City Royals. The probable starters are Hector Santiago for the Twins and Ian Kennedy for the Royals. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota at +128 and Kansas City at -138. The over/under was set at 9. The Twins have a 73-42-6 over/under record and a 63-58-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Royals are 66-55-0 against the run line and have a 50-65-6 over/under record. They cover the spread 55% of the time.

The Twins head into this matchup with a 49-72 record, including 24-35 on the road. Starting pitcher Hector Santiago has a 10-7 record with an earned run average of 4.80 and a WHIP of 1.37. He has 117 strikeouts over his 135 innings pitched and he has given up 125 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.3 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.17. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.29 and they have given up 436 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .266 against the bullpen while being struck out 389 times and walking 130 times this season. As a team, Minnesota has allowed 10.06 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.37 batters per nine. They are 28th in the league in team earned run average at 4.92. The Twins pitchers have collectively given up 1,202 base hits and 588 earned runs. They have allowed 165 home runs this season and they allow 1.4 homers per nine innings as a staff. Minnesota as a pitching staff has walked 318 batters and struck out 881. They walk 2.7 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.4 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.41 and their FIP as a unit is 4.47.

As a team, Minnesota is batting .258, good for 14th in the league while putting together a .257 average away from home. The Twins hold a .428 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .323 which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 11th in baseball with 8.93 hits per game. Joe Mauer comes into this game hitting .281 and his on-base percentage is at .381. He has 117 hits this season along with 62 runs scored and 44 runs batted in. He's struck out 78 times and has walked 67 times. Brian Dozier is hitting .267 and he has an on-base percentage of .341. He has totaled 120 hits so far while scoring 73 runs and he's driven in 73. He has walked 46 times and has struck out 86 times. The Twins have 1,081 hits, including 222 doubles and 146 home runs. They've stolen 77 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 24 times. Minnesota has walked 385 times this season and they've struck out 1,032 times as a unit. They've left 851 men on base and have a team OPS of .751. They score 4.6 runs per contest and have scored a total of 557 runs so far this year.

Kansas City comes into this matchup with a 37-21 home record and a 61-60 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.78, Ian Kennedy has a 7-9 record and a 1.18 WHIP. He has 139 strikeouts over the 140.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 120 hits. He has allowed 7.7 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.96. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.27 and they have given up 354 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .238 against the Royals bullpen while being struck out 379 times and walking 132 times this season. As a team, Kansas City has allowed 8.6 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.23 batters per nine. They are 13th in the league in team earned run average at 4.12. The Royals pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,022 base knocks and 489 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 161 home runs this year and they give up 1.4 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Kansas City as a staff has walked 375 hitters and struck out 978. They give up a walk 3.2 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.31 while their FIP as a staff is 4.46.

As a team, they are batting .263, good for 10th in the league while putting together a .278 average at home. The Royals hold a .398 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .312 which is good for 22nd in baseball. They rank 9th in baseball with 8.97 hits per contest. Eric Hosmer comes into this matchup batting .273 and he has an OBP of .329. He has 126 hits this year along with 59 runs scored and 70 RBI. He's struck out 99 times and has walked on 39 occasions. Alcides Escobar is hitting .257 and he has an OBP of .286. He has collected 126 hits so far while he's scored 42 runs and drove in 33. He has earned a walk 21 times and has punched out 68 times. The Royals as a unit have 1,084 base hits, including 200 doubles and 105 homers. They have 74 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 24 times. Kansas City as a team has walked 276 times this year and they have struck out 902 times. They've had 790 men left on base and have an OPS of .709. They score 3.95 runs per game and have totaled 478 runs so far this season.

Minnesota Twins Betting Trends

The Minnesota Twins are 73-42-6 against the over/under so far this season

The Minnesota Twins are 63-58-0 against the run line so far this season

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

The Kansas City Royals are 50-65-6 against the over/under so far this season

The Kansas City Royals are 66-55-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Minnesota Twins

08/13/16 P Tommy Milone Bicep 15-day DL (8/11)
08/11/16 P Trevor May Back 15-day DL (8/7)
06/10/16 P Phil Hughes Knee 60-day DL (6/10); out for season
04/13/16 P Glen Perkins Shoulder 60-day DL (4/11); out for season

Kansas City Royals

07/31/16 P Wade Davis Hip 15-day DL (7/30)
07/29/16 P Luke Hochevar Shoulder 15-day DL (7/25)
07/19/16 P Kris Medlen Shoulder 60-day DL (5/11)
05/26/16 3B Mike Moustakas Knee 60-day DL (5/23); out for season
04/10/16 P Mike Minor Shoulder 60-day DL (3/15)
04/04/16 P Tim Collins Elbow 60-day DL; out for season
03/31/16 P Jason Vargas Elbow 60-day DL (3/15)

Josh's Pick: Take the Twins

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald