Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions August 12th 2024

Twins, Royals face off with playoff positioning on the line

At 7:40 PM ET, the Twins and Royals will face off in an AL Central matchup. This one is being played at Target Field in Minneapolis and the Twins are favored on the money line (-156). The money line odds have the Royals at +132, and the over/under line is at 8 runs.

BSKC will be televising Monday’s matchup, and the Royals are 3rd in the AL Central with a record of 65-53. The Twins are currently on a two-game losing streak, and their overall record is 65-52. Starting for the Twins is Pablo Lopez, while the Royals are going with Brady Singer.

Kansas City vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: Royals at Twins
• Where: Target Field Minneapolis
• Date: Monday, August 12th
• Betting Odds MIN -156 | KC +132 O/U 8

The Royals Can Win If…

Right-hander Brady Singer is on the mound for the Royals today as he faces the Twins on the road. Singer has made 23 starts this season and has a record of 8-7 with a 3.03 ERA. Coming into the game, he has a WHIP of 1.19 and has turned in 10 quality starts. In his last outing, Singer took the loss, giving up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. Before that, he had won three straight starts. So far, he has been much better at home, with an ERA of 2.64 compared to 4.43 on the road.

The Royals have been one of the best offenses in the league this season, averaging 4.8 runs per game (9th) and batting a collective .254, which is the 7th best mark in the league. They are also the top home run hitting team in the league and have the fewest strikeouts in the league. Kansas City’s team on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS are all right around league average.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been one of the league’s top hitters this season, batting .347 with 22 homers and 87 RBIs. He has been even better of late, going 10/30 in his last seven games with two homers and nine RBIs. Salvador Perez is also having a strong season, hitting .280 with 21 homers and 78 RBIs.

• The Royals are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Royals are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Kansas City has an over/under record of 8-2 in their last ten games.
• The Royals have an average of 6.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Royals are 7-3
• Looking back across the Royals last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Kansas City has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Royals have averaged 5.6 runs per game on offense

The Twins Can Win If…

Pitching for the Twins today is right-hander Pablo López, who is coming off a rough outing vs. the Cubs. In that start, he went five innings, giving up four earned runs, and took the loss. Before that outing, he had picked up the win in two straight starts. Lopez’s record for the season is 10-8, and his ERA is 4.74. Looking at his WHIP, it is currently 1.16. For the year, he has made 23 starts, and opponents are batting .240 vs. López this season. The right-hander has made 11 quality starts and is averaging 10.05 strikeouts per nine innings.

Byron Buxton has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 5/14 with two homers and four runs scored over his last five games. For the season, Buxton is batting .278, which is 3rd on the team, and his 16 homers is the 2nd most on the team. Ryan Jeffers has also been a big power threat for the Twins, as his 17 homers is the most on the team and 15th in the league. However, he is batting just .228 for the season.

As a team, the Twins are 8th in the league in scoring at 4.8 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are a good hitting team, as they are 9th in batting average and have the 5th best on-base percentage in the league.

• The Twins are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Twins are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Minnesota has an over/under record of 5-3-2 in their last ten games.
• The Twins have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Twins are 4-6
• Looking back across the Twins last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Minnesota has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Twins have averaged 3.6 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Our lean for an over/under pick would be to take the over, as we have this as the 3rd lowest projected scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight-up, we like the Royals to come out on top. Kansas City has the fewest team strikeouts in the league, and we have Pablo López as the 14th ranked starting pitcher in terms of strikeouts today.

The Minnesota Twins are set to host the Kansas City Royals in a critical three-game series beginning Monday evening in Minneapolis. With both teams vying for playoff spots, this series could play a decisive role in shaping the American League Central standings as the season winds down.

Twins and Royals Battle for AL Central Positioning

As the Twins prepare to bounce back from consecutive losses, they hold a narrow half-game lead over the Royals for second place in the AL Central. Both teams are trailing the division-leading Cleveland Guardians, who recently secured a 5-3 victory over the Twins, widening their lead in the division race. With the season entering its final stretch, every game counts, making this series a must-watch for fans and a must-win for both teams.

Twins outfielder Byron Buxton remains confident despite the recent setbacks, urging his teammates to keep their focus on the bigger picture. “Things didn’t go our way against the Guardians, but it’s just one series,” Buxton said. “We still have seven weeks of baseball left. This series doesn’t define our season.”

Royals Look to Build Momentum on the Road

The Royals enter this series with hopes of back-to-back wins after an 8-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. This game also marks the start of a six-game road trip, with the Royals set to face the Twins before heading to Cincinnati to take on the Reds.

Kansas City will send right-hander Brady Singer (8-7, 3.03 ERA) to the mound for his 24th start of the season. Singer, who has 121 strikeouts over 130 2/3 innings, is looking to rebound from a rough outing against the Boston Red Sox, where he allowed four runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Singer’s history against the Twins has been challenging, with a 3-6 record and a 5.18 ERA across 12 starts. However, this series provides him with an opportunity to flip the script and help his team climb the standings.

Pablo Lopez Anchors Twins’ Rotation

The Twins will counter with right-hander Pablo Lopez (10-8, 4.74 ERA), who is also making his 24th start of the season. Lopez has been a key figure in the Twins’ rotation, with 144 strikeouts in 129 innings. Like Singer, Lopez is also coming off a loss, having given up four runs on seven hits over five innings against the Chicago Cubs.

Lopez has been effective against the Royals throughout his career, boasting a 4-1 record with a 2.41 ERA in five starts. His most recent performance against Kansas City came on Opening Day, where he allowed just one run over seven innings, securing a win for the Twins. Lopez’s consistency against the Royals could be pivotal in giving the Twins the upper hand in this series.

Injury Updates: Royals Manage Key Absences

The Royals are closely monitoring second baseman Michael Massey, who was a late scratch from Saturday’s lineup due to low-back tightness. Massey has struggled with back issues throughout the season, resulting in two stints on the injured list. Royals manager Matt Quatraro expressed uncertainty about Massey’s availability, noting that his condition fluctuates.

“It’s just a matter of how it feels for him,” Quatraro said. “It could resolve in the next 10 minutes. That’s how hit-and-miss it is with him. So, we just don’t know.”

Adding to the Royals’ challenges, reliever Hunter Harvey was recently placed on the 15-day IL with mid-back tightness. In response, the team has promoted Carlos Hernandez from Triple-A Omaha to bolster the bullpen.

Buxton’s Power Surge Fuels Twins’ Hopes

Despite the Twins’ recent struggles, Byron Buxton has been a bright spot, particularly with his performance in Sunday’s game against the Guardians. Buxton homered twice, bringing his season totals to 16 home runs and 49 RBIs.

“He’s been swinging the bat great,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I think he feels pretty good about where he’s at right now physically.”

Buxton’s resurgence at the plate could provide the spark the Twins need to overcome the Royals and solidify their position in the playoff race.

Conclusion

As the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals prepare to face off, both teams know that the stakes are high. With playoff positioning on the line, this series could be a turning point in the race for the postseason. The Twins will rely on their strong pitching and the hot bat of Byron Buxton, while the Royals will look to overcome injury challenges and lean on Brady Singer to keep their playoff hopes alive. Fans are in for an exciting series with plenty of drama as both teams fight for their playoff lives.

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