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MLB Odds: Minnesota Twins end set at Royals
The bottom two teams of the American League Central standings continue their four-game series Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 11:10 a.m. (PT) at Kauffman Stadium.
Facing off against each other seven times already during the 2011 campaign heading into Saturday, Kansas City held a 4-3 advantage over Minnesota. Kansas City has been outscored 13-4 in dropping the first two games of this particular series, which is surprising due to Minnesota averaging just 3.57 runs per contest.
The Royals had a four-game winning streak against their division rivals snapped with Thursday’s 8-2 defeat.
“It’s a tough first two games, especially with the Twins struggling. You want to get them when they’re down,” Royals first baseman Billy Butler stated. “You really want to take advantage of it when they’re down, but we’re not doing that right now.
The Royals are 3-10 in their last 13 games entering Saturday’s matchup, which includes five-and-three-game losing streaks. Total bettors will find that despite the club’s own offensive woes, the 'over' has cashed in eight of its last 10 games overall.
Left-handed starter Jeff Francis (2-5, 4.46 ERA) is set to make his 13th start of the season and the squad has alternated wins and losses over his last four outings. He tallied a 7-3 home win over the Angels last time out, giving up three runs and scattering eight hits over seven strong innings.
Francis has been solid at Kauffman Stadium this year, registering an even 2-2 mark and 3.09 ERA, issuing just 11 walks in 46 2/3 innings. In two previous starts versus the Twins, the former first-round draft pick has notched a 1-0 record and 3.38 ERA, including a no-decision in a 4-3 road loss on April 12. He allowed three runs and eight hits while striking out five in seven frames in that particular effort.
Minnesota won the first two games of this series after falling 20 games under .500 for the first time since 2000. The club’s record on the road improved to 13-22 with the back-to-back wins.
The Twins lineup has only faced 13 left-handed starters this season, posting a 6-7 record in those games. Minnesota has also won just three of its nine Sunday contests.
Southpaw hurler Brian Duensing (2-5, 5.37 ERA) will try to snap a five-game losing streak Sunday, as he comes off one of his worst starts of the 2011 campaign. He surrendered six runs on nine hits in just 4 2/3 innings at Detroit on May 31.
Duensing has had all kinds of trouble on the road so far, posting a 1-3 record and 5.35 ERA, allowing opponents to hit for a .299 batting average. He will want to be extremely careful with Kansas City’s Wilson Betemit, who is hitting .462 (6 for 13) with a home run and two RBIs against him.
The Twins are 4-1 in Duensing’s last five starts versus the Royals and the ‘under’ is 4-1 in his last seven Sunday starts.
Cory Blaser, in just his second season as a roving fill-in among the umpire crews, is slated to work the dish in this contest. The 29-year-old will be behind the plate for just his ninth MLB game and brings a level 4-4 'over/under' record for his short career into the contest.
Weather forecasts suggest a game-time temp in the low-90s in the Kansas City area and a west breeze of 5-10 mph (out to right). Both games at Kauffman Stadium have gone ‘over’ the total with that particular wind direction.
The bottom two teams of the American League Central standings continue their four-game series Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 11:10 a.m. (PT) at Kauffman Stadium.
Facing off against each other seven times already during the 2011 campaign heading into Saturday, Kansas City held a 4-3 advantage over Minnesota. Kansas City has been outscored 13-4 in dropping the first two games of this particular series, which is surprising due to Minnesota averaging just 3.57 runs per contest.
The Royals had a four-game winning streak against their division rivals snapped with Thursday’s 8-2 defeat.
“It’s a tough first two games, especially with the Twins struggling. You want to get them when they’re down,” Royals first baseman Billy Butler stated. “You really want to take advantage of it when they’re down, but we’re not doing that right now.
The Royals are 3-10 in their last 13 games entering Saturday’s matchup, which includes five-and-three-game losing streaks. Total bettors will find that despite the club’s own offensive woes, the 'over' has cashed in eight of its last 10 games overall.
Left-handed starter Jeff Francis (2-5, 4.46 ERA) is set to make his 13th start of the season and the squad has alternated wins and losses over his last four outings. He tallied a 7-3 home win over the Angels last time out, giving up three runs and scattering eight hits over seven strong innings.
Francis has been solid at Kauffman Stadium this year, registering an even 2-2 mark and 3.09 ERA, issuing just 11 walks in 46 2/3 innings. In two previous starts versus the Twins, the former first-round draft pick has notched a 1-0 record and 3.38 ERA, including a no-decision in a 4-3 road loss on April 12. He allowed three runs and eight hits while striking out five in seven frames in that particular effort.
Minnesota won the first two games of this series after falling 20 games under .500 for the first time since 2000. The club’s record on the road improved to 13-22 with the back-to-back wins.
The Twins lineup has only faced 13 left-handed starters this season, posting a 6-7 record in those games. Minnesota has also won just three of its nine Sunday contests.
Southpaw hurler Brian Duensing (2-5, 5.37 ERA) will try to snap a five-game losing streak Sunday, as he comes off one of his worst starts of the 2011 campaign. He surrendered six runs on nine hits in just 4 2/3 innings at Detroit on May 31.
Duensing has had all kinds of trouble on the road so far, posting a 1-3 record and 5.35 ERA, allowing opponents to hit for a .299 batting average. He will want to be extremely careful with Kansas City’s Wilson Betemit, who is hitting .462 (6 for 13) with a home run and two RBIs against him.
The Twins are 4-1 in Duensing’s last five starts versus the Royals and the ‘under’ is 4-1 in his last seven Sunday starts.
Cory Blaser, in just his second season as a roving fill-in among the umpire crews, is slated to work the dish in this contest. The 29-year-old will be behind the plate for just his ninth MLB game and brings a level 4-4 'over/under' record for his short career into the contest.
Weather forecasts suggest a game-time temp in the low-90s in the Kansas City area and a west breeze of 5-10 mph (out to right). Both games at Kauffman Stadium have gone ‘over’ the total with that particular wind direction.
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