Kansas City Royals vs Minnesota Twins Picks and Predictions September 8th 2024

There is a big AL Central matchup today between the Twins and Royals, with the game being played at 2:10 PM ET at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. The Twins are on a two-game losing streak and are 76-66, while the Royals have won three straight and are 78-65.

Kansas City is currently favored on the money line, with the odds sitting at -121 compared to the Twins at +102. Today’s over/under line is sitting at 8.5 runs, and BSN is carrying the game on TV.

Minnesota vs. Kansas City Key Information

• Teams: Twins at Royals
• Where: Kauffman Stadium Kansas City
• Date: Sunday, September 8th
• Betting Odds KC -121 | MIN +102 O/U 8.5

The Twins Can Win If…

Through 24 starts, Simeon Woods Richardson has a record of 5-3 and an ERA of 3.95. He has made seven quality starts this year and is coming off a short outing where he didn’t give up a run. Against the Rays on September 2nd, Woods Richardson went 3 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs, two walks, and six hits. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Before that, he had won two straight starts. His ERA on the road is 4.76 compared to 4.0 at home.

Carlos Santana and Ryan Jeffers are tied for the team lead in home runs this season, but both players are batting just .235. Byron Buxton is batting .275 and has also been a solid power threat, with 16 homers. Willi Castro is batting just .248, but his 52 RBIs are the 3rd most on the team. Collectively, the Twins are 9th in home runs and are batting .250, which is the 7th best mark in the MLB right now.

Minnesota’s offense is averaging 4.7 runs per game and has been even better at home, where they are averaging 4.9 runs per contest. As a team, they are 6th in slugging percentage and have the 5th best Isolated Power mark in the league. Currently, Carlos Correa, Jose Miranda, and Matt Wallner are all on four-game hitting streaks.

• The Twins are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Twins are 0-5 vs. the run line.
• Minnesota has an over/under record of 3-6-1 in their last ten games.
• The Twins have an average of 2.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Twins are 3-7
• Looking back across the Twins last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Minnesota has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Twins have averaged 4.0 runs per game on offense

The Royals Can Win If…

Michael Wacha gets the start for the Royals today and will be looking to bounce back from his last outing, where he took the loss. Against the Guardians, he went five innings and gave up two earned runs, along with a homer. Looking back over his last four starts, Wacha has given up at least one homer in three of them. This season, he has made 25 starts, and opponents are batting .246 off the right-hander. Wacha’s ERA for the season is 3.50, along with a record of 11-7. So far, he has made 13 quality starts and is averaging 7.69 strikeouts per nine innings.

As a team, the Royals are averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 9th in the league. They have been even better at home, averaging 5 runs per contest. Kansas City is also one of the best hitting teams in the league, coming in with a team batting average of .254, which is 5th in the league. The Royals have two of the league’s top home run hitters in Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez. Witt Jr. has gone deep 30 times, while Perez has 25 homers.

Witt Jr. has been one of the league’s best hitters this season, batting .336 with 98 RBIs. However, he has struggled a bit of late, going just 6/30 in his last eight games. Tommy Pham has been hot of late for the Royals, going 8/25 in his last six games with a home run and four RBIs. Pham also comes into the game on a four-game hitting streak.

• The Royals are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Royals are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Kansas City has an over/under record of 3-6-1 in their last ten games.
• The Royals have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Royals are 5-5
• Looking back across the Royals last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Kansas City has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Royals have averaged 5.4 runs per game on offense

The Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins are set to face off in a pivotal AL Central battle on Sunday. With both teams chasing postseason dreams, this game carries immense weight for their chances. The Twins will be fighting hard to avoid a series sweep, especially after a heart-wrenching bullpen collapse on Saturday that added extra pressure to the series finale.

Twins’ Bullpen Breakdown: What Went Wrong?

The Minnesota Twins seemed to have things under control on Saturday, holding a 2-0 lead over the Kansas City Royals heading into the eighth inning. But just when it looked like victory was within reach, the Twins’ bullpen crumbled under the pressure.

Closer Jhoan Duran, who had been one of the most reliable arms in the league this season, allowed three runs. Griffin Jax added to the woes by surrendering another, giving the Royals a huge momentum shift that led to a 4-2 win.

Yet, trust was tested as Duran, who now has nine relief losses, has struggled in recent games, losing four of his last nine outings. Jax, who has been solid with 23 holds this season, blew his fifth save. Minnesota’s bullpen, once a strength, has now become a liability late in games, allowing 22 runs after the sixth inning in their recent 13-game stretch, which has seen them lose nine times. The loss dropped the Twins (76-66) to third place in the AL Central, now trailing behind the Royals (78-65) and the first-place Cleveland Guardians.

Royals’ Resilience Shines Through Yet Again

For the Royals, Saturday’s win marked their 37th comeback victory of the season, which is the second-highest total in all of Major League Baseball. It’s become a hallmark of Kansas City’s play this year: when the game is tight, they find a way to deliver in the clutch.

Currently sitting 3.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central and holding the second AL wild-card spot, the Royals have shown they can handle pressure. Saturday’s win was just another example of their ability to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes and rally when it matters most.

Kansas City’s offense took full advantage of Minnesota’s bullpen struggles, turning late opportunities into key runs. The Royals (78-65) have built a reputation as one of the most clutch teams in the league, and as the postseason approaches, they’re showing no signs of slowing down.

Can the Twins’ Offense Bounce Back?

While the Twins’ bullpen has been shaky, their offense hasn’t done much to help matters either. In Saturday’s loss, Minnesota managed just five hits. Friday wasn’t any better, as the Twins were shut out with only four hits in a 5-0 loss.

In their last five games, the Twins have only managed to score 11 runs, losing four of those contests. With the postseason looming, Minnesota’s hitters will need to find their groove quickly if they want to have a chance at staying competitive in the playoff race.

Sunday’s Pitching Matchup: Woods Richardson vs. Wacha

Sunday’s series finale will see the Twins sending rookie right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (5-3, 3.95 ERA) to the mound. Woods Richardson has shown flashes of potential but has struggled with consistency. In his last four starts, he hasn’t made it past the fifth inning and allowed three runs over 3 2/3 innings in his most recent outing against Tampa Bay. However, he earned a win in his lone start against the Royals earlier this season, allowing two runs over five innings.

On the other side, the Royals will counter with veteran right-hander Michael Wacha (11-7, 3.50 ERA), who has been a rock for Kansas City this season. Wacha has posted a 7-1 record with a 2.92 ERA over his last 12 starts, making him one of the Royals’ most reliable arms. He allowed two runs over five innings in his last outing against Cleveland but took the loss in a 4-2 game. Wacha also boasts a solid track record against the Twins, with a 4-1 career record and a 3.67 ERA in six starts.

The Stakes Are High: What to Watch For in the Series Finale

This isn’t just another game. For both teams, this is a must-win scenario. The Royals have the chance to complete a series sweep and tighten their grip on a playoff spot, while the Twins are desperate to avoid further slipping down the standings.

Key factors to watch:

• Minnesota’s bullpen: Can they rebound after two disastrous outings, or will their late-game struggles continue to haunt them?
• The Twins’ offense: Will Minnesota’s bats wake up and provide the run support their pitchers desperately need?
• Michael Wacha: Can he deliver another strong performance for the Royals and help secure a sweep?

With postseason dreams on the line for both teams, expect a fierce battle in Sunday’s game. The Royals will look to maintain their clutch form, while the Twins will try to salvage a win and get back on track in their playoff pursuit.

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 6th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Twins to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, Michael Wacha is 19th in our projections in starting pitcher strikeouts, compared to Simeon Woods Richardson, who is 18th.