Minnesota Twins vs Kansas City Royals Picks and Predictions August 13th 2024

At 7:40 PM ET, the Royals and Twins face off in an AL Central matchup. This one is taking place at Target Field in Minneapolis, and the Twins are favored on the money line (-109). The money line odds for a Royals win are sitting at -110, and the over/under line is currently 8.5 runs.

BSN will be televising Tuesday’s matchup, and Seth Lugo is starting for the Royals, while the Twins are going with Zebby Matthews. In the standings, the Royals are 3rd in the AL Central, while the Twins are 2nd. Kansas City is 65-54, and the Twins have an overall record of 66-52.

Kansas City vs. Minnesota Key Information

• Teams: Royals at Twins
• Where: Target Field Minneapolis
• Date: Tuesday, August 13th
• Betting Odds KC -110 | MIN -109 O/U 8.5

Seth Lugo will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Red Sox, as he gets the start for the Royals today. In that game, he gave up four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. Lugo took the loss in the outing. Before that, he had been pitching well, giving up a combined two earned runs in his previous two outings. Lugo’s ERA for the season is 2.72, along with a record of 13-6. Out of his 24 starts, Lugo has turned in 17 quality starts. Per nine innings, he is averaging 7.57 strikeouts and just 2.14 walks.

Heading into today’s game, the Royals are averaging 4.8 runs per game, which is 9th in the league. They have been even better at home, putting up 5.3 runs per contest. Kansas City is one of the best hitting teams in the league, with a team batting average of .254, and they also have the 2nd fewest strikeouts in the league. The Royals are also 11th in slugging and OPS.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been one of the league’s top power hitters this season, as his 23 home runs are 10th in the league and the best mark on the Royals. He is also batting .347 for the season and has gone 14/42 with four homers over his last 10 games. Salvador Perez is also having a strong season at the plate, hitting .280 with 21 homers.

• The Royals are 5-5 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 5.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Royals are 6-4
• 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 5.3 runs per game on offense

For today’s game against the Royals, the Twins will rely on Zebby Matthews to set the tone. It’s his debut for the season and he’s looking to put together a strong start in his debut.

Minnesota’s offense has been one of the league’s best this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, putting up 5.1 runs per contest. As a team, the Twins are batting .252, which is 9th in the league, and are also 9th in home runs. Minnesota’s team OPS of .751 is also 6th in the MLB.

Ryan Jeffers has been the Twins’ top power threat this season, with 17 homers, and his 53 RBIs are also the best on the team. Jeffers is currently on a three-game hitting streak and has gone deep three times over his last nine games. Willi Castro and Byron Buxton are also key power threats in the Twins’ lineup, with 9 and 16 homers, respectively.

• The Twins are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Twins are 4-1 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 4.4 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

RHP Zebby Matthews Ready for an Emotional MLB Debut with the Twins Against Royals

This season, the Minnesota Twins have been full of surprises, and the latest one is about to hit the mound. Zebby Matthews, a 24-year-old right-hander, is all set to make his big-league debut against the Kansas City Royals. It’s not just any debut, though—this is the moment Zebby has been dreaming about his entire life. His meteoric rise through the minors has caught the attention of baseball fans everywhere, and now, he’s about to step onto the field in a Minnesota Twins uniform. As the big day approaches, the buzz around his journey, the outpouring of support from his loved ones, and what this means for the Twins’ rotation is reaching a fever pitch.

Zebby Matthews’ Wild Ride to the Big Leagues

Zebby Matthews’ path to the majors has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Just a few months back, he was grinding it out with the Class-A Cedar Rapids team, working on fine-tuning his skills. But his talent was undeniable, and it didn’t take long for the Twins’ scouts to notice. From there, it was a whirlwind—promotions came fast, moving him from Double-A Wichita to Triple-A Saint Paul in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

The big moment came during what was supposed to be just another bullpen session with Triple-A Saint Paul. But when his manager, Toby Gardenhire, called an unexpected team meeting, Zebby’s gut told him something was up. What he didn’t realize was that his life was about to change forever.

“I had a feeling something was happening,” Zebby said, recalling that surreal moment. “But I had no idea what it could be.”

Gardenhire started talking about the team’s upcoming road trip to Indianapolis, but then, out of nowhere, he dropped the bombshell: Zebby wasn’t heading to Indy—he was going to the majors to pitch for the Minnesota Twins.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Being Called Up

When Zebby got the news, it sent shockwaves through his entire support system. For a guy who started the season in the lower minors, the idea of making his MLB debut so soon was mind-blowing. It wasn’t just him who was in disbelief—his friends and family were equally stunned.

“Honestly, they were all in shock,” Zebby said about sharing the news with his closest circle. “It was like, ‘Wait, what? It’s happening already?’ They’re just as excited as I am.”

Twins fans are in for a treat on Tuesday when Zebby takes the mound against the Royals in Minneapolis. And for Zebby, it’ll be extra special, with around 20 of his friends and family in the stands, cheering him on and soaking in the moment that’s been years in the making.

The Twins’ Game Plan as They Face the Royals

The Twins are riding high off an 8-3 win over the Royals, and now they’re setting the stage for Zebby’s debut. In the last game, Willi Castro crushed a three-run homer, and Royce Lewis added a two-run shot, showing off the team’s offensive strength. However, the victory was bittersweet, with Byron Buxton leaving early due to hip discomfort, leaving everyone wondering if he’ll be able to play in the upcoming game.

If Buxton is out, the Twins might have to reshuffle their lineup. Manuel Margot, who stepped in for Buxton on Monday and contributed with a sacrifice fly, could be the one to fill the gap if Buxton isn’t good to go.

Royals’ Strategy: Aiming for a Comeback

On the other side, the Kansas City Royals are looking to shake off their loss and even the series. Bobby Witt Jr. was a bright spot with a homer, but the Royals’ pitching just couldn’t keep up, especially during a rough second inning where they gave up six runs, putting the game out of reach.

Seth Lugo, one of the Royals’ more reliable pitchers, is set to make his 25th start of the season on Tuesday. Lugo has been solid this year, sporting a 13-6 record with a 2.72 ERA. But his last outing against the Red Sox was a bit shaky, as he gave up six runs (four earned) over 5 1/3 innings. He’ll be looking to bounce back and return to form against the Twins, a team he’s historically done well against, with a 1.73 ERA in six career appearances.

What Zebby Matthews Means for the Twins’ Pitching Rotation

While everyone’s focused on Zebby’s emotional journey to the big leagues, there’s also the strategic side to consider. The Twins haven’t officially announced their starting pitcher for Tuesday, which leaves the door open for Zebby to step into a significant role right away.

Given how quickly he’s climbed through the minors, it’s clear the Twins see something special in Zebby. How he performs on Tuesday could give us a glimpse of what’s in store for the future of the Twins’ rotation, especially as they head into the final stretch of the season.

Zebby Matthews’ debut with the Minnesota Twins isn’t just a milestone for him—it’s a big moment for the entire Twins organization. As he takes the mound against the Kansas City Royals, he’s carrying the hopes and dreams of not just his family and friends, but of fans who’ve been rooting for him all along. Whether he becomes a fixture in the Twins’ rotation or continues to develop, this debut is the start of an exciting new chapter in his career. The energy is electric, and all eyes will be on Target Field as Zebby Matthews makes his mark in the major leagues.

The Lean

Look for the Twins to come out on top as they host the Royals today, and we are leaning towards taking them on the money line. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is our highest projected scoring game of the day. The Twins have the best home run projection in the league, and Kansas City starter Seth Lugo has the 3rd worst innings pitched projection among today’s starters.